Fran Kirby relishing Euro 2017 after year out injured

Wednesday 07 Jun 2017

Fran Kirby is back in the England squad for the first time since June last year – and she is determined to make up for lost time.

Long-term knee and ankle injuries have rendered her unavailable for the last 12 internationals.

But Lionesses boss Mark Sampson still named the Chelsea forward in his 23-strong group that will travel to the Netherlands for the Euro finals in July.

Kirby said: “It's nice that Mark had that confidence in me.

“It's always nice when a manager trusts you. Even though I hadn't played before the squad announcement he took into account the hard work I'd put in to get myself fit again.

“I knew I'd be fit enough by the time the Euros came around so I was always hopeful, but in the back of my head I did think I might miss out. It was a massive relief when I found out that I was in.

“It's nice to know that he trusts me, even though I haven't played as much as the others over the last year.

“Hopefully I can pay him and the team back by performing well at the Euros.”

Kirby made her Chelsea comeback against Sunderland on Sunday 21 May – and went on to claim the FA WSL 1 Spring Series golden boot by netting six times in just five matches.

And she thanked her Blues team-mates for the support they gave her over the last 12 months.

;

Kirby added: “It has been a really tough year both physically and mentally. It was difficult to deal with the setbacks and how long the injuries have taken to heal.

“There were a lot of long days in the gym. When the girls would go out on the pitch I knew I still had another three hours left in the gym.

“A lot of them stayed around to support me. If I was in the gym at 8am, Karen Carney would be in there on the bike to make sure I wasn't on my own which was really nice.

“All the girls supported me and pushed me in different ways. I can't speak highly enough of them. They were brilliant with me.”

Euro 2017 will only be Kirby’s second major tournament after she helped England finish third at the World Cup two years ago.

And she believes she will be a lot better equipped this summer than she was in 2015.

She explained: “The main thing I took from Canada is that I know how to manage my body during a tournament. And with the year I've just had it's probably even more important now.

“I need to look after myself and make sure I don't get injured again. I need to be in control of my body. I understand my body a lot more now.

“I feel more like a footballer now than I did in Canada. I've been doing a lot of work in the gym so I'm fitter and stronger, and my body shape has changed. I've now got muscles which I never had.

“I'm feeling really positive going into the Euros. I'm in a better place, in mind and body, to deal with the demands of a tournament.”

Kirby continued: “I'm nearly there with my match fitness.

“But I'm not worried at all, especially after the year I've had. I know it will come.”

England face two warm-up matches before the Euros. They take on Switzerland in Biel on Saturday and Denmark in Copenhagen on 1 July.

The Lionesses kick-off their Euro 2017 campaign against Scotland in Utrecht on 19 July, followed by Spain in Breda on 23 July and Portugal in Tilburg on 27 July.

By Glenn Lavery

Kirby's comeback