NEW Severn Stars boss Melissa Bessell has compared netballer Paige Reed's movement to that of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Reed hopes the Worcester side can challenge for a top-four Vitality Netball Superleague spot as she has agreed to return for a second season.

The 22-year-old shooter, who has played for England under 19s and 21s, impressed in her debut campaign and hopes to make further progress.

And Bessell said: “Paige is a beautifully, cool, calm athlete with an amazing one, two step that Muhammad Ali would be proud of.

"She is going to shine brightly this season playing alongside Liana Leota.

"I think we will truly see some amazing new and exciting netball this coming season with this duo and I cannot wait to watch Paige flourish again for Stars.”

Reed said: “I am really excited to be returning to Stars this year and to progress as a player and as a team.

“I wanted to return as I learnt a lot being a part of Stars last year and am really keen to keep progressing.

"Having some new staff and players is also an exciting opportunity and working with new people will be a great challenge going forwards.

“I’m hoping we can challenge for top four this year.

“With the players we have we are more than capable of doing this.

"I’m hoping to take to the court more than I have in previous seasons and get the opportunity to play more with different combinations.”

Reed joins a Stars line-up which so far includes New Zealand star Leota and Welsh internationals Nia Jones, Bethan Dyke and the re-signed Georgia Rowe.

Reflecting on the 2018-19 season Reed said it had been a massive learning curve for the side.

“We were challenged a lot throughout the season for different reasons but I think it made us closer as a squad,” she said.

“I felt like we all worked for each other and helped one another, whether we would win or lose or if times were easy or tough.

"Hopefully we keep the same cohesion as last year because I felt the players came together very early on in the year and we were a solid group.”

Reed said she was also looking forward to being pushed by someone new with Bessell taking over as head coach for this season.

“Having a new head coach will change the dynamic of the team but hopefully for the better and will push us mentally and physically more than last year,” Reed added.

“With Melissa coming from a New Zealand background it’s exciting to learn new styles of play.”