The W-League miracle Canberra United star Michelle Heyman will 'never forget'

Twelve months ago Heyman was mentally drained and physically broken.

She walked away from the W-League after one season in Adelaide, having been unceremoniously dumped by then Canberra United coach Heather Garriock amid sweeping changes to the roster.

Heyman found out through the media she no longer had a place in United's squad, where she had forged a legacy as one of Australia's finest, and after one season interstate she yearned for a break.

But now she is back with her sights set on leading Canberra back to the finals and reclaiming her record as the league's all-time leading scorer.

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She is just four goals shy of levelling Sam Kerr for the latter on 70 goals, after netting a hat-trick to lead Canberra to a stunning 4-3 triumph over Adelaide United at Viking Park on Wednesday night.

It brings Heyman's career tally to 66. Yet in a career which has taken her to a World Cup, the Olympic Games and W-League glory, her return in lime green made her feel like she was starting all over again.

"It's always the best feeling scoring a goal, and to be able to do it in front of this crowd, it's something I'll never be able to forget. It just feels like my first goal again for Canberra United," Heyman said.

"It's the best. It makes me so happy. Just having that support from Canberra United fans is the biggest thing because that helps push us.

"As long as they're cheering for us, it gives us that extra bit of energy, that little burst, and we score goals. It's fun scoring goals, it's good for the crowd, it's good for ourselves, and it's good for all of Canberra.

"As soon as we got that first goal, that's something that always starts that rhythm within the team. We knew as soon as one went in the back of the net that it was ours, we just had to get that first one."

Canberra face a short turnaround before they face Melbourne City at Viking Park on Sunday after the coronavirus pandemic saw officials make major changes to the season fixture.

The W-League is still feeling the effects, with Canberra's round five clash altered again on Thursday.

Canberra will now play the Melbourne Victory at Viking Park on January 24, instead of Sydney FC as first scheduled.

Yet Canberra coach Vicki Linton knows her squad will be able to overcome any challenges, just as they did after falling behind by two goals before Heyman inspired a comeback against Adelaide.

"It says a lot, doesn't it? That's probably the most pleasing thing, how they rallied together," Linton said.

"You could see how tight-knit a group they are, so that bodes well from game one moving forward. You could see how much that meant to [Heyman]. It means a lot to us as a club and as a team to see her enjoying her football and performing like that."