Just like Faye White did to her eight years ago, Steph Houghton is ready to welcome newcomer Fran Kirby into the England Women’s squad.
In-form Reading forward Kirby has been called into the senior set-up for the first time for the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Belarus and Ukraine.
And new Three Lions captain Houghton, who recently recalled the way former skipper White helped her settle in when she was 17, will welcome Kirby with open arms.
Belarus v England
FIFA Women's World Cup 2015
Group 6 qualifier
3pm BST, Saturday 14 June
Traktor Stadium, Minsk
She said: “It’s part of a captain’s role – and the more experienced players – to make the younger players fit into the squad straight away and feel welcome.
“It’s not just down to me, it’s down to the whole squad to make Fran feel welcome and I know they will do.
“I’m sure she will come in and enjoy every moment with us. It’s something that she will have dreamed about for a long, long time and now she’s got her place she’ll enjoy it.”
Houghton continued: “We played against Reading in The FA Women’s Cup and she was by far their best player. She likes to get into the box, she can use both feet and she caused us problems with her pace.
“Fran’s a bright talent and definitely one for the future.”
Victories over Belarus and Ukraine will leave England on the verge of qualifying for Canada 2015.
Six points will leave Mark Sampson’s side needing just a draw against Wales in August to secure top spot in Group 6 – on the proviso the Welsh win their next two matches, against Turkey and Belarus.
England opened their qualifying campaign with a 6-0 win over Belarus last September and their last result was a 4-0 dismissal of Ukraine in Shrewsbury in May.
Houghton added: “First and foremost we have to perform. Last time out against Belarus because we scored so many goals the result was fairly comfortable early on so it was just about playing the football we know we can.
“We had to be more patient against Ukraine and didn’t score until just before half-time. But we stuck to the game plan and came away with a good win in the end.
“We need to keep up our performance levels for these next two games.”
England have won all six qualifiers so far and have yet to concede a goal – a statistic Houghton is proud of.
She said: “Obviously the most important thing is the three points, but as a defender I’m really pleased that we haven’t conceded any goals.
“In the last couple of games Siobhan Chamberlain has pulled off a couple of ‘worldies’ but other than that we’ve been very solid and very organised defensively. That has given us a good base so the forwards can go and score the goals.”
England squad
Goalkeepers
Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Rachel Brown-Finnis (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Defenders
Sophie Bradley (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Everton), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Casey Stoney (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (University of South Florida)
Midfielders
Laura Bassett (Chelsea), Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Liverpool)
Forwards
Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Jess Clarke (Notts County), Dunia Susi (Notts County), Natasha Dowie (Liverpool), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Reading), Lianne Sanderson (Boston Breakers), Kelly Smith (Arsenal).
