Hard-working Aileen Whelan has been told she can be a big player for Albion Women in the run-in.

Seagulls skipper Sophie Perry was delighted to see the former Notts County midfielder named player of the month in WSL2.

Now she hopes to see her kick on again when league action resumes later this month.

Whelan went into the international break with a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Oxford.

Perry, back from an international training camp with the Republic of Ireland, said: “Aileen is very dedicated. In training she is one of the hardest working players.

“She has had a few injuries but has shown really good determination to come through that.

“She has a really good mentality and she will be very important going into the last matches of the season.”

The fact Albion provided two of the three nominations for the February award spoke volumes about their progress.

Forward Ini Umotong was short-listed along with Sarah Wiltshire of Tottenham.

Perry, right, has no doubts the third-placed Seagulls have improved under boss Hope Powell.

She said: “If you look at us from the beginning of the season, we have progressed and grown a lot.

“Since Hope has come in, working alongside Amy Merricks, we have grown.

“A lot of players have improved.

“We are scoring a lot of goals now.

“People who come and watch us can see our type of play is really good.

“We are more focusing on performances.”

Perry can see her own game benefitting under the guidance of the former England boss.

She said: “For me it has been about the basics, looking at passing, types of movement.

“Sometimes you almost forget to work on the basics so it’s good to really focus and execute these things. That has helped me a lot.”

Albion have been training hard during the extended break in their schedule.

But, with a five-week gap between club games, Perry was also pleased to get away for an international camp.

She said: “We had a training camp in preparation for World Cup qualifiers next month.

“It’s going to be a big month. We’ve got Slovakia and Holland and it’s important we get points out of both those games.

“We are second at the moment which is good but there are quite few games to go.”

Perry is looking to offer a helping hand as well by getting involved with Chestnut Tree House, the only children’s hospice in Sussex.

She has donated a signed Republic of Ireland shirt and bids via eBay are nearing the £100 mark as the deadline nears.

Perry said: “I’ve followed Chestnut Tree House on social media and taken an interest in them.

The Argus:

“Bruno is an ambassador for the charity. They have asked me to be an ambassador as well.

“It’s a children’s hospice and I want to help out and contribute.”