Manchester Thunder netballer Laura Malcolm believes taking care of your mind as an athlete is 'more important' than looking after your body. 

The centre-court star has been preparing for this weekend's Vitality Netball Superleague season opener. 

The England international with 20 caps to her name, left Thunder in 2017 and moved to Severn Stars, but re-signed for the Manchester club in November last year.

She has praised the club for the support they gave her when her father, Marcus, died in 2013. 

The vice-captain told BBC Sport: "When I lost my dad a few years back, Tracey Neville [then manager at Thunder] made sure something was put together to support me through the grieving process.

"Mental health support is available for every player, regardless of their situation, and that's so important.

"You train your body so much but you use your mind even more than that, so that has to be looked after more."

Malcolm's teammate Caroline O'Hanlon added: "There is more awareness of mental health because players are coming out and talking about it.

"The more netball is in the public eye, the more open we are to criticism and we have to look after each other. Luckily we're a close-knit group at Thunder."

The season opener takes place today at the Arena Birmingham where Thunder will play last year's runners-up, Wasps.