Women’s Super League

JILL SCOTT is open to the possibility of coaching the Lionesses in future and nurturing the team’s rising stars. 
And the England veteran, who is set to receive her 150th cap, hopes to overtake Fara Williams as the national team’s record appearance holder. 

Jill Scott is set to make her 150th appearance for England when they play Northern IrelandCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Scott, 34, is expected to start against Northern Ireland almost a year after her last international match. 
And the Man City midfielder, who is on loan at Everton, has loved “every minute” of the coaching opportunities that have come her way this term.
Scott said: “Just before I left City over Christmas we had a few Covid issues which opened up an opportunity to do a bit more coaching with the girls and I loved it
“They said they did too and I don’t know if they were just trying to be nice to me but those two weeks before I went to Everton really made me realise that this is what I want to do. 

“Even though I’m not at City at the moment I’ve still been doing a little bit of mentoring via zoom with the Academy girls because I do want to keep that connection. 
“I think that’s important and I think, although everyone talks a lot about the importance of coaching on the pitch, I believe massively in 90% of it is in your head and to be able to pass that on to the academy girls is very beneficial. 
“I hope I can get a coaching role in the future however that may look and it’s just fantastic that City have given me the opportunity to do it.”
Scott, whose Lionesses career is in its 15th year, hopes to make many more appearances for club and country.

The former Sunderland star made her England debut as Kelly Smith’s substitute in the team’s 4-0 win against the Netherlands in 2006.

Scott, 34, sealed a loan move from Man City to Everton is a bid to get more game this seasonCredit: PA:Press Association

And the midfielder’s bid to secure more game time to maintain her national squad spot led to a temporary return to former club Everton in January. 
Before this Scott played 104 times for City winning three FA Cups, three Conti Cups and a league title since her move there in 2013. 
And the WSL ace is relishing the chance to use her Toffees loan to help her surpass Fara Williams’ milestone of 172  England caps. 
Scott added: “Even mentioning Fara Williams and putting my name next to hers, that is such a massive honour for me to join her hopefully in that 150 Club.
“I feel like the age of 34 has just creeped up to us, and suddenly I am now one of the oldest players in the squad.
“It’s probably something that I’ve never really spoken about in the past, but my priority has always been playing for England. 
“When I’ve reflected on my journey, there have been a couple of opportunities where I had the chance to go abroad to play. 
“But there was maybe a change in England manager and I really wanted to stay in England and stake my claim, because playing for England is the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
“Maybe before Christmas things were not going too well for me, I probably didn’t feel like myself. 

Scott hopes to surpass Fara Williams as the Lionesses’ most capped playerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
“Manchester City were fantastic and said they would always support us in whatever I wanted to do…so yeah, I think Everton has been so good for us.
“I am enjoying this so much and playing in the games, being competitive. 
“So yeah, it was definitely the right decision. Hopefully, it’s something that keeps us in the England team moving forward.”

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MAN UNITED’S Ivana Fuso received glowing praise from Brazil’s head coach following her senior international debut.
The Red Devils starlet, 19, came on as a late sub during Brazil’s 4-1 victory over Argentina in the SheBelieves Cup.

Ivana Fuso impressed Brazil’s head coach during her senior international debutCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And despite a shaky first touch, team boss Pia Sundhage was impressed by the United forward in her 23 minutes of action.
Sundhage, 61, said: “I liked what I saw. I think her first touch was a little bit off but she then just dug into the game.
“She is like a Brazilian. She is technical and she is quick.”
Prior to the match Fuso had a difficult choice to make, as she was born in Brazil but raised in Germany and able to represent either nation.

The former FC Basel starlet made ten appearances for Germany’s Under-19s and was captain of the side
But Sundhage hopes Fuso chooses to become a fully-fledged Brazil international in the future.
Sundhage added: “I hope she will choose the Brazilian national team because she is a really good player.
“She has a big chance to play a lot of minutes in this team.”

Fuso joined the Red Devils in July 2020 on a two-year deal.
The highly-rated forward has made four league appearances for the WSL title-chasers who play Aston Villa next.
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Pia Sundhage believes Fuso’s future lies with BrazilCredit: Rex Features

And the Brazil starlet has made a good impression on club boss Casey Stoney.
Stoney said: “She’s a great character, she’s bubbly and she brings out her personality every day.
“It’s not been easy for her. To get back on the grass, and hopefully back playing again, will just bring out that smile and she can really start to feel integrated within the club and the team.”
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BETH MEAD and Millie Turner are to join the Lionesses at St George’s Park ahead of England’s friendly against Northern Ireland. 
The Arsenal and Man United duo have been drafted in following injuries to Chelsea’s Millie Bright and Fran Kirby. 

Beth Mead, 25, has been called up to England Women’s squad ahead of their match against Northern IrelandCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Manchester United defender Millie Turner, 24, will join the Lionesses’ training campCredit: Rex Features

The FA says Bright, 27, has withdrawn from the national team’s training camp and will return to her club for treatment. 
And her Blues team-mate Kirby, who won February’s WSL Player of the Month award, is thought to have picked up a minor injury during Chelsea’s 5-0 win against Bristol City. 
It means that Kirby, 27, – who has been on fire for the champions netting 11 goals in 12 games – has been ruled out of England’s game against Northern Ireland. 
And it could see Mead, who was a surprise omission from interim coach Hege Riise’s squad list, in line to receive her 26th cap. 

England Women’s coach, Hege Riise said: “Millie Turner and Beth Mead now have an excellent opportunity to impress me and my coaching team on this camp and we look forward to welcoming them here.  
“Being resilient, adaptable and versatile is what we are all about and it is a privilege to be working with such a talented and ambitious group of players.
“We always knew this would be a complex camp, but we are delighted to have a fixture against Northern Ireland to prepare ourselves for this week and I have been very impressed by the spirit and determination I have witnessed from our players in camp so far.” 

Fran Kirby picked up a slight injury during Chelsea’s 5-0 away win against Bristol CityCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

England will be up against a Northern Ireland side on the verge of making history following their impressive run in the Euro 2022 qualifiers.

Should they be successful in their play-offs Kenny Shiels’ squad could become the first Northern Ireland women’s side to reach a major international tournament. 
A recent spate of injuries means Shiels has had to name a youthful squad ahead of their clash with the Lionesses at St George’s Park. 
And the Northern Ireland boss will be without several key figures who helped his team beat the Faroe Islands 5-1 in their final Euros group stage match. 
Injured players include Glasgow Rangers duo Demi Vance and Megan Bell and siblings Kirsty and Caitlin McGuiness. 
But Shiels, who has been linked with the vacant Team GB women’s football coach role, wants his players to use the experience to help their Euros play-off chances. 

Kenny Shiels wants Northern Ireland to use their game against England as preparation for their Euro 2022 play-offsCredit: Press Eye Ltd
Shiels said: “We’re not saying we can go and beat England. We’re saying we can go and learn from England. 
“That’s the whole message to the players. We have to have realism.
“We will give England as good and as competitive a game as we can but more importantly it will help us with our play-offs when they come.”
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SANDY MACIVER is enjoying the battle to be England’s first-choice stopper after being tipped for the top by Everton boss Willie Kirk.  
And the Toffees ace hailed the influence of Carly Telford and Karen Bardsley ahead of the Lionesses’ match against Northern Ireland. 

Sandy MacIver is part of a 22-player squad taking part in an England Women’s training campCredit: Alamy Live News

MacIver, 22, is facing competition for an England starting place from Ellie Roebuck and Hannah HamptonCredit: Focus Images

MacIver is one of a trio of top-flight keepers included in interim head coach Hege Riise’s England squad. 
And at 22 the Everton player is the oldest of the three who include Man City starlet Ellie Roebuck, and Birmingham’s Hannah Hampton, both 21. 
MacIver said: “To be able to push myself alongside two really good goalkeepers in Ellie and Hannah just shows the strength of the group and I think the three of us pushing on now is only going to help us.
“They have had different experiences from what I’ve had and I think together we’ll be able to support each other and push each other on.  

“Ultimately at the end of the day, whoever plays in any game is always going to have the support of the other two.”
MacIver knows she is facing stiff competition from her top-flight rivals.
Like Hampton, the Everton ace has kept four clean sheets in the league so far this term, with Golden Gloves winner Roebuck racking up five. 
And the Winsford-born keeper believes her experience of competing with Toffees team-mate Tinja-Riika Korpela has been beneficial in preparing her push for an England spot. 

Roebuck, 21, has kept five clean sheets for 13 league games for Manchester City this termCredit: PA:Press Association

MacIver added: “I’m very fortunate that at Everton I work with Tinja-Riikka Korpela who is a very experienced goalkeeper who has played at Bayern Munich and many caps for Finland. 
“When you’re able to go into training each day and really know you have to put 100 or 110 per cent into everything you do, there’s no room for slack.
“When you then go away into a national team environment, there’s no having to make a step up. 
“And I think with the current situation with the goalkeepers for England, everyone has got just as good a chance as everyone else, and I think when you see there is a number one shirt up for grabs, it does make things more exciting.” 
MacIver, who carried the Olympic torch in Chester ahead of the London 2012 games, is eyeing this month’s England training camp as a chance to stake her claim for a Team GB spot. 
It will be the second time in history that Britain’s team will take a women’s football squad to the games with the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to take place this year. 
And MacIver believes her experience of learning from the likes of Chelsea veteran Carly Telford and Man City ace Karen Bardsley has been vital for her development. 
The Everton stopper added: “I remember my first (England) camp, about two years ago I was at SheBelieves as a training player, and being able to train every day with the likes of Karen (Bardsley) and Carly (Telford), you just learn so much. 

Hannah Hampton has impressed with her performances in goal for Birmingham City in the WSL this termCredit: Rex Features
“They in themselves are such supportive people that they are willing to help you, and to be able to fire questions away to them was really beneficial in kind of starting my journey in the England squad.
“And I think the chance of going to an Olympics is huge.
“For it to come around every once in four years, just shows how special an occasion it is, and to be able to go to an event like that would be incredible.”
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ABBY DAHLKEMPER says taking on the Red Devils in her first Manchester derby was an emotionally intense experience. 
And the USA star praised Manchester City for helping her swiftly settle into life in the Women’s Super League following her January arrival.

Abby Dahlkemper says she enjoyed help Man City defeat against the Red Devils in her first Manchester derbyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Dahlkemper, who is away on international duty in the United States, was speaking ahead of the start of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. 
The Man City ace and her national team will play Canada in the first game of the round-robin tournament which the USA won in 2020. 
The clash comes days after Dahlkemper and Man City swept Manchester United aside in a 3-0 win against their WSL title rivals. 
Dahlkemper told Forbes: “It was a real pleasure to learn about the history of the Manchester derby and to be able to participate in it. 

“It was physically and mentally demanding and intense and you could feel that emotion when you were on the pitch. 
“I was happy we were able to get that result and taking it one step at a time over there (in England) is important. 
“My coaches and my team-mates have made the transition over there (in England) fairly smooth and I’m just happy to get minutes.” 
Dahlkemper, who joined Man City from North Carolina Courage in January, is one of several WSL stars competing in the SheBelieves Cup this year.

The USA centre-back and her national team-mates, who include United’s Christen Press and City’s Rose Lavelle, will begin their quest to win the tournament for the fourth time in Florida. 
And they will take on a Canada side whose players include City forward Janine Beckie, West Ham’s Adriana Leon and Tottenham skipper Shelina Zadorsky. 
Argentina and Brazil are the other national sides competing in the four-team competition.

Dahlkemper and the USA will take on Canada in their first SheBelieves Cup game in FloridaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

West Ham’s Adriana Leon is part of a Canada squad who will play against the USA, Argentina and BrazilCredit: Rex Features

Canada, who are the eighth-best women’s national side in the world, are being coached by ex-Lionesses assistant Bev Priestman. 
Priestman, 34, was a former No2 to ex-England Women’s boss Phil Neville.
And the County Durham-born gaffer was part of a coaching team that helped Canada win bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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