Aston Villa Women are eight league games into the 2021/22 campaign and have plenty to be optimistic about thus far.
With 10 points on the board, Carla Ward's side appear ready to eclipse their points total from last season in the coming weeks.
They also find themselves just five points behind third-place Brighton & Hove Albion, a team which they defeated in September.
Signature victories over Leicester City and Birmingham City have also contributed to putting smiles on the faces of the Villa faithful as we approach the end of the calendar year.
And as we move into the final month of 2021, league matters must make way once more to the international window of fixtures.
In the final such window before March 2022, there are a host of Villans representing their countries over the next week or so.
Find out who is set to feature below...
Hannah Hampton
Our shotstopper has been a key figure throughout the opening stages of this season and has made spectacular saves look like ordinary ones on several occasions.
Hannah celebrated her 21st birthday just last week but is already regarded as one of the best 'keepers the WSL has to offer.
While she is still awaiting her first senior cap as a Lioness, the feeling amongst many is that appearance number one is not too far away.
Hampton will have two opportunities to earn that maiden cap during the current international window.
England face Austria on Saturday lunchtime (ko 12.30pm) in the first of two FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers, before hosting Latvia on Tuesday evening (ko 7pm).
England v Austria (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Saturday, November 27
12:30
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
England v Latvia (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, November 30
19:00
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Alisha Lehmann
Our no. 7 will be hoping to edge her native Switzerland closer to World Cup qualification during this week's international period.
While the 23-year-old is still waiting on her first strike in claret & blue, she has been in impressive form for the Swiss over the last couple of windows and has found the net twice.
Two away trips are in store this time around for Alisha and her fellow compatriots, with visits to Italy and Lithuania standing between them and six points.
Italy v Switzerland (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Friday, November 26
16:30
Renzo Barbera, Palermo
Lithuania v Switzerland (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, November 30
16:30
LFF Stadium, Vilnius
Chloë Arthur
Another Villa player looking to continue her fine form on the international stage is Chloë Arthur.
The midfielder netted her first two goals for Scotland during September's break, perhaps a result of enjoying a prolonged run in the starting lineup at club level.
The 26-year-old was forced to withdraw during last weekend's defeat to Manchester City but is thought not to have suffered anything significant as she joined up with the Scotland camp this week.
Scotland have a home clash to look forward to against Ukraine before they travel to Spain at the start of next week.
Scotland v Ukraine (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Friday, November 26
19:35
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Spain v Scotland (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, November 30
20:00
Estadio de la Cartuja, Seville
Emily Gielnik
After a stop-start beginning to life at Aston Villa, Emily Gielnik has her sights firmly set on the present and future.
The forward played just twice for the club before sustaining a broken toe in the win over Brighton in September.
Incidentally, our no. 9 suffered the injury before going on to bag the winner against the Seagulls, but since went on to miss six total games.
The Australian came off the bench during last weekend's defeat to Man City, and is now hoping November's camp with The Matildas will act as the springboard she needs to kickstart her career in claret & blue.
On the agenda for Gielnik and co. are two friendlies, back-to-back, against the USA.
Australia v USA (Friendly)
Saturday, November 27
04:00
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Australia v USA (Friendly)
Tuesday, November 30
09:05
Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle
Ruesha Littlejohn
Our no. 31 rounds off the senior representatives from the Villa squad during the November international window.
The midfielder, like Gielnik, has seen her career in claret & blue prove to be a stagnant one up to this point.
However, the 31-year-old has featured in two of our last three outings in the hopes of putting some long-standing achilles problems behind her.
Littlejohn's experience and wisdom is though to be key for the younger players in the Villa squad as we head into an important stretch of games.
While on duty this time around, Littlejohn will be hoping to feature as the Republic of Ireland play two home games in their attempts of qualifying for the Women's World Cup.
Republic of Ireland v Slovakia (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Thursday, November 25
19:00
Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght
Republic of Ireland v Georgia (FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, November 30
19:00
Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght
Villa will also have a host of internationals featuring across England's youth programmes during the November window.
Maz Pacheco have been selected for the Under-23s, while Olivia McLoughlin, Deearna Goodwin, Freya Gregory, Laura Blindkilde Brown (Professional Development Phase Squad), Grace Nascimento, Millie Curnyn and Milly Round (Under-16s) have also been called up by the Young Lionesses.
Congratulations and good luck to each and every player representing their nation!
