Every captain has their own way of being a leader... it's all natural to me

BEFORE every game she plays, Millie Bright's mum tells her to "dream big".

- Simon Collings

It is a motto Bright has stuck to throughout her career, so much so that she designed a tattoo of a dreamcatcher for her left arm.

The 29-year-old has been true to her mum's words - and this evening she flies out to the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as England captain.

For Bright, there is no bigger dream than captaining her country at a major tournament, and the Chelsea defender, normally so vocal on the pitch, struggles to find the words to describe the honour.

"I'm incredibly proud," she says. "I feel really grateful to be selected, let alone to be captaining the girls.

"There aren't enough words. Anyone in my position would say honoured and proud.

"But, for me, nothing changes, I stay the same, I'd like to think people see the same Millie every day, no matter what. I always lead for the team, that's just natural to me!" Bright has been promoted from vice-captain after Lionesses skipper Leah Williamson suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Arsenal in April.

That injury came just weeks after Bright herself injured her knee playing for Chelsea. Williamson was ruled out for at least nine months, but Bright has been declared fit to be called up by head coach Sarina Wiegman.