Kendall’s mint finish completes rapid rise in Lionesses victory

Lucia Kendall was already living the dream, slotting into life in the WSL after she joined Aston Villa from Southampton this summer with an ease that earned her a first senior call up in October. The 21-year-old made her full debut against Australia, remarkably picking up the player of the match trophy at the end of the 3-0 win.

- Suzanne Wrack

In the cold and rain at St Mary's against Ghana last night, it took her just six minutes to ensure the dream remains a recurring one, slotting in from close range after Bénédicte Simon had scuffed her clearance from Chloe Kelly's cross and the ball fell fortuitously at the midfielder's feet.

It was a full circle moment, the Southampton academy graduate returned to the ground of the club that nurtured her to score England's opener in the 2-0 win less than five months after she left the south-coast side to take the next step in her young but exciting career.

If there is a highlight to pick out from England's four friendlies to see out 2025 after that phenomenal and chaotic European title defence in the summer, it is the emergence of Kendall from the relatively anonymity of the under-23s team into the senior spotlight.

Her rise has been so rapid that England's ever-present Lucy Bronze admitted she had not known who she was when asked about the energy she gets from the young players who make the step up to the senior side.