Wales' Ingle back to best after injury nightmare

ByIan Mitchelmore

BBC Sport Wales

Sophie Ingle says she feels back to her best having enjoyed a sustained run of appearances with Wales and Bristol City since fully recovering from an ACL injury.

The midfielder missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign but made her long-awaited return to action as a substitute in Wales' Euro 2025 loss to France on 13 July.

She has featured 25 times across all competitions for the Robins this season and is now bidding to help fire Wales to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

"I think throughout my whole rehab, it was just focusing on getting back for the Euros and that was the main aim," Ingle told BBC Sport Wales.

"I was lucky enough to do that, and then joining Bristol City, I think it was just about getting game time.

"I've played near enough every game this season."

Asked if she is back to her peak levels following a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Ingle said: "Yeah probably, I feel good, I feel fit.

"Obviously it's coming towards the end of the season so you start to feel that your body's a bit tired and you need to recover a bit better. But throughout the season I've felt really good."

Having lost seven successive matches during an historic 2025 for Wales, Rhian Wilkinson's side are now unbeaten in their past four matches.

Ingle has been central to the Red Dragons' turnaround having scored three goals in her past four appearances for her country.

"It doesn't happen often. I don't really know what to say about it," Ingle said of her recent form in front of goal.

"Since coming back from my knee injury, it's something that I looked at when I was injured.

"I don't really score that many goals but I think it helps when I'm up for corners now and in and around the box."

Wales currently sit top of their World Cup qualifying group having thrashed Montenegro 6-1 in Llanelli last month - four days after they earned a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic.

And Ingle will reach 150 caps for her country this month should she feature in both of Wales' fixtures against Albania in Wrexham and Elbasan.

"It's quite scary really to think that I've been here that long and played that many games," she said.

"Being on 148 [caps] now is such a great achievement and one in the moment you don't really look at.

"But every single game, I've loved putting on the Welsh shirt and if I reach 150 it'll be another big achievement."

The one positive from her lengthy period out of action was that it afforded Ingle the chance to reflect on her glittering career to date.

"I think when you're out injured, you get to reminisce about the things that have gone on in the past for both club and country and trophies that I've won," she added.

"In the moment you have to move on to the next game. It's always the next game, the next game. You don't really celebrate it in the moment.

"So being out for nine months, you get to look back on highlights and some really good things that you did within the team."

Some may feel that extending their unbeaten run will be the bare minimum this month for Wales as they host Albania at Wrexham's Stok Cae Ras on Tuesday (19:15 BST) before the away fixture against the same opponents at the Elbasan Arena four days later (17:00 BST).

However, as far as the players are concerned, only six points from the two fixtures will suffice.

"Rhian [Wilkinson] said it on day one of camp that we are going for two wins. I think we're all aligned with that," Ella Powell told BBC Sport Wales.

"We started the campaign relatively well. We're at the top of the group, and that's exactly where we want to stay.

"In order to do that, we need to win our games.

"We're not hiding away from that. That is our goal."

And Ingle's verdict was equally unequivocal.

"Two wins," she said emphatically.