Beth Mead believes a move out wide at Arsenal can help her to flourish on the international stage.
The 22-year-old has spent most of her fledgling career as a traditional centre forward.
But a recent redeployment on the wing has brought out the best in the north-east native. She scored the equaliser against London rivals Chelsea last week before Phil Neville handed her an England debut against Wales on Friday night.
Mead said: “It’s been a little bit weird for me, having played as a No9 for a lot of years but I’ve started to enjoy it.
“I’ve mixed up my game and I’ve worked on different things that I know I need to get better in that position.
“I think that’s helped me and against Chelsea I think that was one of my first games that I really enjoyed being on the wing.
“So I’ve just got to bring that to the international level now.”
Mead has now played for every England age group since making her debut for the U15s in March 2010.
She moved to the Gunners from Sunderland last January and has started to look at home in Boreham Wood, scoring 11 goals in 18 matches so far this season.
And it culminated in her 10-minute Lionesses cameo at St. Mary’s.
She added: “I’ve waited a long time for it, and I’m glad I’ve got it.
“I was very, very, happy to be given the chance by Phil but it was a disappointing [result]. It was one of those games. Frustrating. We wanted the three points.
“I’m just happy to be in the squad at the moment and to get on was unbelievable for me and my debut will be a moment I cherish, obviously.
“Some things I could have done better. I know that myself. I gave a pea-roller to the keeper. Phil said try and get at them, get 1v1s, try and get the ball in early and that’s what I tried to do and unfortunately it just wasn’t good enough.”
Neville was appointed as Mark Sampson’s successor in January and Mead has been encouraged by his first few months in the job.
She said: “He spoke to me straight away when he came into the role.
“He told me he liked me as a player and I needed to work hard, and I think it’s good motivation to hear that from a manager, so it’s a good start.”
