Millie Bright may be one of the finest defenders in the country but she says she will never taker her place in the England squad for granted.
The 25-year-old is among the 23 players selected by head coach Phil Neville for next month’s matches away to Austria and at home to Sweden.
The double-header will act as further preparation for next year’s World Cup, following the 1-0 defeat of Brazil and 1-1 draw with Australia earlier this month.
Bright has earned 24 caps since making her senior team debut in September 2016 and she was the only England player to start every match at last year’s Euro finals.
But the Chelsea star refuses to rest on her laurels and knows she must continue to earn her place in the squad.
She said: “I’m always grateful for the opportunity to play for my country. No matter how many caps I have or how many caps I go on to win, playing for England will always be a big deal for me.
“I’m always trying to prove that I’m worthy of my place in the team. Phil tells us to make every day count and I really try to do that.
“I’m over the moon with 24 caps but I want to win many, many more. It acts as motivation for me and helps push me on.
“I will never take England for granted.”
The Sweden match will take place at the New York Stadium in Rotherham, just a few miles from Killamarsh, where Bright grew up.
It will be the Lionesses’ first time back in Yorkshire since the 1-1 draw with Belgium in April 2016.
And while Bright is excited to represent her country so close to home, her eyes are already drawn towards France 2019 and the prospect of appearing at the World Cup finals.
She said: “If I was selected in the World Cup squad it would be a huge, huge honour for me and my family and I’d be unbelievably proud.
“It’s something I’ve always dreamed about but it’s something that you never think will happen. Even the possibility that I could be going to a World Cup next year is unbelievable.
“But I need to keep my feet on the ground. It’s important that I don’t look too far ahead. I need to keep working hard and playing well, and what will be will be.”
