Friday 16 November 2018, 02:00

Returners making instant impact at Uruguay 2018

  • Players with past youth tournament experience shining at Uruguay 2018

  • Account for about 25 per cent of all goals scored

  • Three have already won player of the match awards

It may seem an odd thing to say about players at a FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, but experience matters, even at this stage in their young careers.

There are 31 players at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Uruguay 2018 with experience at either a previous U-17 Women's World Cup or a U-20 Women's World Cup.

FIFA.com looks at five players that have made an instant impact in Uruguay.

Jordyn Huitema (Canada)

Previous tournaments: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 (3 games played, 1 goal scored)

Uruguay 2018: Scored one goal, team captain and won the player of the match award in win over Colombia

Jordyn Huitema of Canada celebrates

Fuseina Mumuni (Ghana)

Previous tournaments: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2014 (Did not feature in any games), FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 (4 games played)

Uruguay 2018: Scored in opening match against hosts Uruguay

Fuseina Mumuni of Ghana, center, and teammates celebrate

Aneka Mittendorff (New Zealand)

Previous tournaments: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018 (3 games played)

Uruguay 2018: Team captain and was voted player of the match against Finland

Aino Vuorinen of Finland defends Aneka Mittendorff of New Zealand 

Eva Navarro (Spain)

Previous tournaments: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 (6 games played, three goals scored), FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018 (6 games played)

Uruguay 2018: Team captain and scored Spain's opening goal against Korea Republic

 Eva Navarro of Spain celebrates after scoring a goal 

Claudia Pina (Spain)

Previous tournaments: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 (6 games played, two goals scored), FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018 (5 games played, one goal scored)

Uruguay 2018: Scored two goals in Spain's opening win over Korea Republic and was voted player of the match

Claudia Pina of Spain celebrates after scoring a goal

More stats

  • Goals: Returners have scored five of the 21 goals so far, accounting for almost a quarter of the goals

  • Player of the match: Three returners have won player of the match awards

  • Captains: Five captains at Uruguay 2018 have previous youth World Cup experience

  • 15 of the 31 total returning players have played the full 90 minutes in their matches, while 80 per cent of them have made an appearance at Uruguay 2018