Aimee Hodgson is aiming to continue on her current upward trajectory after signing her first Rovers contract.

The 18-year-old winger is the latest product of Rovers’ Regional Talent Club to reach the first team squad and has now been rewarded with her first contract.

Hodgson has already made her mark on Gemma Donnelly and become a regular in the Ladies’ Championship campaign, but is only looking forward.

“It’s great, obviously just turning 18 and then to get a contract, it feels like the hard work is paying off,” she said.

“I wasn’t really expecting it but then to get the call, it just felt incredible.

“You hear about players going through the RTC and then making it to the first team and I’ve always looked up to the first team, so it felt good to be in and around the team and then to seal a contract too.

“I was in the development team, but I didn’t play a single game because I had an injury and then to come into the first team, I think the plan was to go out on loan.

“So then to stay in the first team, it’s been quite hard to adjust but I think I’m finally getting there.”

Hodgson has earned call-ups to the England youth set-up as reward for her progress, putting behind the disappointment of a broken collarbone which hampered her in the 2019/20 season which was eventually curtailed.

She has played 17 times in all competitions this season, and becomes the latest homegrown player to commit her future to the club, following in the footsteps of Emma Doyle and Annabel Blanchard.

“I am delighted for Aimee to sign her first professional contract,” Donnelly said.

“She’s worked really hard overcoming two collarbone injuries which effectively meant she missed a season of football.

“It is with great pleasure we can offer Aimee a professional contract which she wholeheartedly deserves.”