Alex Morgan says she wants to play in next summer’s Olympic Games, three months after she is due to give birth to her first child.

The United States soccer star’s due date is in April next year, with Tokyo 2020 set to start on 24 July.

Speaking to USA Today Sports, she said: "It's my goal to play there. It's clearly a short window but if I'm able to, I want to be there representing my country.

"I hope to get back on the field as soon as possible. After having a healthy baby, I want to get back with the national team and look forward to playing in Tokyo.

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"There are so many women that have been able to come back to their respective sport after pregnancy and continue to have a successful family while playing their sport that they love at the highest level.

“I plan to follow in those footsteps and be one of those women who have a family and carry my daughter around as I'm going to the next city to play. And I still want to continue to enjoy the sport that I've been playing for all my life."

Morgan has been one of football’s biggest stars, winning two World Cups (including this year), as well as Olympic gold in 2012. At the 2019 World Cup she finished as the joint top scorer in the competition and was named in the FIFPro World XI in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

The Orlando Pride forward announced her pregnancy alongside her husband, LA Galaxy midfielder Servando Carrasco, last month.

Morgan will be in good company as USWNT teammates Sydney Leroux and Shannon Boxx have both recently returned to the team after having children.

Tennis stars such as Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Kim Clijsters have all won tour titles after becoming mothers.

At the World Athletics Championships this October, US sprinter Allyson Felix won her 12th world title, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record in the process, just 10 months after giving birth to her first child, daughter Camryn.

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