After making her first start of the season, Catarina Macario is eyeing consistency and more minutes in Chelsea blue.

The forward was named in the starting XI for the first time this campaign in Wednesday night’s win against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League. And her next opportunity to represent the Blues is today’s Women’s Super League clash against Manchester United at Kingsmeadow.

After registering an assist against Celtic, with Lucy Bronze hitting Macario’s cross sweetly on the volley, the American international hopes to keep showing what she can offer Sonia Bompastor’s side.

‘I just want to contribute in any way I can,’ Macario said. ‘Obviously, I’ve had a few setbacks with injury, but I hope that’s past us now and I can keep building up my minutes.

‘I always try to work hard, whether that is on or off the pitch. I trust myself and I’m confident in my abilities that when I do step on the pitch I can make an impact in this team. I was happy to get the start and 45 minutes against Celtic.

'I wanted to do my best and help the team get the win. I’m very happy Lucy was able to finish that cross! Now, it’s about finding some consistency and, hopefully, I can keep building so that I can get the rhythm back and be back in contention with the group.’

The Blues host Manchester United having won our previous 11 matches across all competitions, with seven of those coming in the league – where we sit at the top of the table. We could increase our advantage at the summit to five points with a win over the Red Devils.

‘We have started the season well,’ Macario said. ‘It can be hard with a new coach and staff coming in and with new players, but we’ve really found our stride. That’s a testament to this group.

‘I do think we can be even better. There is still a new level that we can get to. We just have to keep raising the standards and push from there.

‘Obviously the most important this is we’re getting the wins and we sit at the top of the league, but I think we can have more dominant performances from start to finish.

‘We can be a little bit more coordinated in our movement and the way that we play. Then, we’ll truly be unstoppable. We can get to a higher level individually and collectively.’

The last time Chelsea faced Manchester United it proved to be an emphatic display with the Blues winning 6-0 at Old Trafford. A win which resulted in us lifting a fifth-consecutive WSL trophy.

But Macario knows her side can’t underestimate our upcoming opponents, who, alongside Chelsea, are the only other team in the WSL yet to lose a match this season. Marc Skinner's side have won four and drawn three of their matches thus far.

‘They’re a good team, but we just have to focus on ourselves and the quality that we have,' Macario said. 'We trust the coaches to give us the tactics and we will execute the game plan.

‘We have the confidence in ourselves that we can go out there and get the win and keep getting better in every single match.’