Nikita Parris calls on Man Utd to 'step up and grow' before Manchester derby

England forward Nikita Parris said Manchester United need to "step up and grow" as they lag 12 points adrift of their title-chasing Mancunian neighbours.

Despite finishing runners-up in an astounding Women's Super League campaign last season and pushing reigning league champions Chelsea to the brink in both the league and FA Cup, Marc Skinner's side have toiled in a mercurial season.

Indeed, having tumbled out of an inaugural Champions League campaign early, United sit in fourth, 12 points adrift of Manchester City and Chelsea at the top of the table and level on points with Liverpool.

On Saturday, United have a chance to avenge part of their season with a trip away to City at the Etihad Stadium. Victory could keep them within contention for a European spot.

And Parris, 30, has called on her teammates to "step up" to the occasion as they did so often last season. "As a team, we need to step up and grow," Parris told BBC Sport. "All our games have been competitive but in big moments we've lacked experience and it's cost us."

Last season, United claimed four out of a possible six points when confronting City but in another visual of this season's changed fortunes, City not only dispatched United comfortably 3-1 at Old Trafford but also defeated them in the League Cup in a season.

Gareth Taylor's side have been ruthless as they bid to upset Chelsea's quadruple pursuit as part of manager Emma Hayes' goodbye tour. Since defeating United 3-1 in November, City have relished a nine-game winning streak in the WSL, a consistency which has evaded United this season.

"We were competing last year. This year we haven't maintained those high standards," said Parris. "That's where we need to push forward as a team. It won't happen overnight