Most players take lengthy periods of time to get back to their best after a prolonged stint on the sidelines, but not for Everton's new signing Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.

The former Doncaster Rovers Belles striker bagged nine goals in nine games to finish as the FA WSL 2 Spring Series Top Goal Scorer, a feat she was honoured for at Friday’s FA Women’s Football Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The Leicester-born forward was an integral part of the Belles side, the chief source of goals for the South Yorkshire outfit before moving to the north west ahead of the new season.

Sweetman-Kirk missed a chunk of last year after breaking her leg during a friendly match in April 2016, but was in searing form throughout the Spring Series.

And while an international call-up is still yet to come, there is no doubting the 26-year-old’s ability as she looks ahead to the new campaign.

“It’s fantastic – coming from a big injury the season before, hitting the Spring Series running was a big aim for me, but obviously to come out top goal scorer is massively pleasing,” said Sweetman-Kirk.

“I have to say a huge thanks to my team-mates for putting me in those positions and helping me get the goals.

“I’ve not really had an injury that’s kept me out for any amount of time before – I’ve been forced to work really hard and coming back.

“Massive credit to the club and physio that I’ve had around me. But I’ve worked hard as well and sticking the ball in that back of the net is a great feeling.”

The FA Women’s Football Awards celebrated an exciting year for women’s football and recognised the achievements of clubs, players, staff and the excellent work by volunteers at the grassroots level of the game.

The awards also highlighted the success of The FA’s Gameplan for Growth, launched earlier in 2017, which aims to double participation and the fanbase of the women’s game by 2020 and create sustained success at elite international level.

Sweetman-Kirk’s nine goals was two ahead of her nearest challenger, Claudia Walker, and helped fire Rovers to second in the division, behind only new side Everton at the top of the tree.

Everton face Liverpool on Friday in the Merseyside derby, their first fixture of the upcoming FA WSL 2 campaign.

And for Sweetman-Kirk, there’s just one thing in her mind when she takes to the turf once again.

“I just want to play well, score some more goals, get some more minutes and hopefully come back to the awards next year and pick another one of these up,” she added.

For more information and to see all the award winners visit www.thefa.com/forgirls Join the conversation online using the hashtag #FAWomensAwards.