Chelsea and England striker Fran Kirby has said she is ‘starting to feel more like herself’ as she continues her return from illness.

The 27-year-old was diagnosed with pericarditis last year, a condition which causes inflammation around the heart.

Kirby did not play after a match against Manchester United in November and even considered retiring.

Speaking to The Football Show on Sky Sports News back in May, she said: "I couldn't really have many conversations with people because I just felt so tired.

"I would start a conversation, then switch off and not finish.

"I had people around me that could see I was that poorly and still trying to help me, even though sometimes I may have come across rude - I was just in a fog in my head, to be honest."

But now Kirby has returned to regular training with the Women’s Super League champions and is beginning to get back to how she felt 12 months ago.

She told her Twitter followers: "Pushing everyday to get better. Slowly starting to feel more & more like myself everyday."

Kirby joined Chelsea back in 2015 after her showing at the Women’s World Cup.

She has scored 32 goals in 54 WSL games for the Blues as well as 13 times for England.