Freya Gregory is ready to thrive alongside Aston Villa's international stars as they look to gatecrash the Women's Super League's top four next season.

An unforgettable 2022-23 campaign saw Villa finish fifth and reach the Women's FA Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Gregory, 20, exclusively told LiveScore: "We've proven we can compete with these top-four teams. I think we've closed the gap. 

"We'll set ourselves goals for next season but we finished fifth so the only way we can progress is to get higher up the table. 

"This group can achieve anything. The relationship we've got as players and as people, that's what's key to the success we'll try and get in the new few years. 

"Our goals will be set very high and our standards will be even higher than last season."

Mixing it with the best

Villa have already shown they are eager to become a force in both men's and women's football with a host of eye-catching signings this summer.

Gregory, who graduated through the club's centre of excellence, said: "For someone like me, Laura [Blinkdale] and Liv [McLoughlin], who've been here since we won promotion a few years ago, it's really clear the progression we've made.

"And now we're playing with these world-class players. We just learn from each other. Everyone in the group pushes each other. 

"I'm only young and I've got so much to learn. For me, it's about knowing that I can compete in this league. 

"Having these rose models who've been in the game and had experiences, we can only learn off them."

Itching to return

Though undoubtedly a success for the team, last term will have a tinge of regret for Gregory after a season hit by injury and illness.

But the attacker is ready to put that behind her. She added: "I'm itching for the season to start! I'm gutted it's not until October but I think it could also be a blessing in disguise."

"Last season started well and then I got that injury back in December. I'd started a couple of games before that and had got into a bit of rhythm.

"I was hit with the first big injury of my career. I came back from that and had made some good impacts from the bench and then got hit with illness.

"So it was frustrating because it felt like every time I'd got into a rhythm, it was cut short by something out of my control."

Living the dream

Villa Park — traditionally home of the men's side — played host to three WSL games last season.

And lifelong Villan Gregory added: "It's something I talk about at family barbecues all the time. I think it's absolutely crazy. 

"When I was at Villa when I was younger, I've watched them play when I was probably nine or 10, the levels we've gone to now is unbelievable.

"I think it was inevitable but I think it's unbelievable it's come so quickly. Every time you walk out, it just hits you.

"The feeling of that will never get old and the success we've had will only draw more attention to us."