Diamonds star Layton 'progressing': coach

Oct 10, 2017 - 1:07 AM Star netballer Sharni Layton is getting back to normal and enjoying life after leaving the national team due to exhaustion, Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander says.

The experienced defender was a late withdrawal from the Australian squad for the recent Quad Series and has missed the current Constellation Cup.

Alexander says she's been in contact with the 29-year-old and she is "progressing really well" after being worn down by a combination of factors.

Those included a "solid two years" following the 2015 World Cup, moving from Sydney to Melbourne and other commitments off court, the coach says.

"Professional athletes have got to make their time in the sun as good as possible and Sharni was trying to do that," Alexander told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday.

"But it is still - you've got a body that's holding you back, you've got to do the training and all of those things combined together really exhausted Sharns."

Alexander said the Diamonds are "quietly confident" Layton will be back playing for the side in January, ahead of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

"It's great to hear her getting back to normal, I think, and really starting to enjoy her life and touching base with the things that matter - her family and those sorts of things," she said.

Source: AAP