SAINTS FC Women duo Rianna Dean and Chloe Peplow admitted being injured at the same time helped with their recovery from injuries earlier in the season.

The pair featured on a Saints 'Cribz' episode where they discussed how living together helps them in their day-to-day lives.

Dean joined Saints in July on a permanent deal, while Peplow spent the second half of last season on loan at the south coast club before also making her move permanent.

They have known each other for over 10 years and it has helped them both settle at Southampton.

When asked if being injured at the same time was a positive in a difficult situation, Peplow agreed: "I think it made a massive difference.

"We didn’t step foot on the pitch together for the whole of pre-season really. I was injured then Rianna got injured then I came back, then got injured again and Ri was also injured.

"It was quite a tough pre-season but I think having each other go through something like that is massive because any injury for a footballer or any athlete is the toughest thing that you have to go through.

"It was hard but having each other helped massively because if I was on my own I would have got through it but it would have been a lot harder."

The duo played together at Tottenham Hotspur between 2019 and 2021 and also at Crystal Palace for a period.

Dean insisted that her friend helped her settle in when she joined Saints FC Women over the summer.

The forward said: "I found it important because Pep helped me settle here as she’s been here for a few months before I was.

"I found it useful as it made me feel comfortable and confident going into the club as well."

Peplow agrees with that sentiment and believes that having a good work-life balance is vital when you are a footballer.

She added: "I think who you live with is so important because having that balance when you are a footballer is massive.

"She has always been one of my closest friends. It helped me as well because I was on loan but it was me coming back permanently as well."

Saints are currently on their winter break and are next in action when they make the long trip to the North East to face Sunderland in the FA Cup on Sunday, January 14.