Nikita Parris has urged her England team-mates to power through to France 2019.
The Manchester City striker scored the opening goal of the Lionesses’ embryonic World Cup qualifying campaign, as they recorded a comfortable 6-0 win over Russia at Prenton Park in September.
Parris met up with her international team-mates at St. George’s Park on Sunday evening to begin preparations for the next two qualifiers, against Bosnia and Kazakhstan.
And the 23-year-old said England must keep their feet firmly on the gas.
She explained: “We managed to get a really good win over Russia and we have to keep our winning ways going.
“The next two results obviously matter so we need that winning mentality in all games if we want to get to the World Cup.
“We know Bosnia from the Euro qualifiers and they are going to try and frustrate us, try and force us into making silly mistakes.
“They are going to be hard to break down but we have got the quality in our team to unlock them. First and foremost we need to make sure we have the right game plan and that we stick to it.
“A professional performance is what’s needed in games like this. If we do the right things, there is no reason why we shouldn’t pick up another win.”
The Bosnia match, which is being staged at Banks’s Stadium in Walsall on Friday night, will be interim head coach Mo Marley’s second in charge following the 1-0 defeat in France last month.
Like many of her England colleagues, Parris knows Marley well, progressing through the Everton centre of excellence under the former Toffees boss, and having made 29 of her 49 international youth team appearances under Marley's watchful gaze.
“It feels just the same as when we were in the younger age groups,” she said. “Mo has always had the same approach.
“She is a very, very good coach and the ultimate professional. She has done a great job so far in difficult circumstances. We narrowly lost against France but put in a great performance.
“We all want to build on that in the next two games.”
Parris has been in the England set-up since April 2009, when she made her U17s debut against Spain.
She made her senior bow against Serbia last year and has already collected 16 caps, bagging five goals.
But she realises there is still work to do and looks to the more experienced players for inspiration.
She added: “I’m still on a learning curve with England.
“I feel lucky to have come into such an experienced environment. My game still needed work when I first came into the squad and I still need to keep developing.
“But when you’ve got people like Fara Williams, Casey Stoney and Steph Houghton helping you and pointing things out, that can only be a good thing.”
After the Bosnia match, England entertain Kazakhstan in Colchester on Tuesday 28 November.
Tickets, priced £1 for children and £10 for adults, are still available for both matches via TheFA.com/Tickets.
