Six months on from reaching the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals, one of the key components of the Brøndby team is back.

Forward Katrine Veje departed Brøndby in the summer to link up with Seattle Reign in the United States. But after helping the Reign top the NWSL regular season table and coming off the bench in their 1-0 championship final defeat by FC Kansas City, Veje has opted to return to Denmark.

Veje will not face Slavia Praha in the round of 32 over the next two Wednesdays as Brøndby have granted the 24-year-old a holiday after more than 12 months without a break, but Veje is delighted to be back home having previously been a 13-hour flight away.

"I am going back to Denmark to play for Brøndby," Veje said. "It has been good over here, but I miss my boyfriend, my family and my friends."

Katrine Veje in semi-final action against Frankfurt in April ©Sportsfile

Homesickness was previously a factor in Veje deciding to leave FCR Malmö (now Rosengård) in 2013. She had a spell living back in her home town of Middelfart – where she grew up, and indeed played, with Christian Eriksen – before joining Brøndby. It is Brøndby she has turned to again as she comes home from the United States.

"I'm very satisfied with my stay over here, but I'm really a long way from home. And I really miss the girls in Brøndby. We've got a really special team spirit at that club, and it's just not the same.

"It's more competitive at training and games [in the US]; it's like playing with boys. I had to adapt to that, and it has made me a better player. I really would like to stay because of the football here, but Seattle is too far from Denmark and my family."