CHLOE KELLY admits it is a “bit mad” being spotted by eager fans on the streets following her Euros final goalscoring heroics.
The winger says England’s other leading figures can fill the gap left by Leah Williamson after injury forced the captain to withdraw from the squad.
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Kelly, who returned to international duty after missing England’s September games, is staying grounded in terms of talk of the team winning next year’s World Cup.
The forward, 24, could be in line for an appearance this Friday with the team facing the USA at Wembley followed by a duel with the Czech Republic at the Amex on Tuesday.
The Wembley fixture could see Kelly get some international minutes for the first time since scoring the winner that led to a Euros trophy win for the Lionesses.
Of her encounter with supporters on the streets since that triumph, Kelly said: “I am just a normal girl and to be noticed in the street a little bit more is a bit crazy.
“One day I was going to meet the girls at Manchester City and a car pulled up of loads of girls and started shouting my name.
“So, I am there waving, thinking it was the City girls, and then I was like – I don’t know any of these people!
“I was just walking down to the city of Manchester, and I was like, wait, this is weird.
“I am enjoying the moment, but it is about performing on the pitch.
“I want to improve and keep learning because once you taste the winning feeling, it just makes it even more exciting to win more.
“Of course, the goal (at Wembley in the Euros) will always stick in people’s minds.
“I want to be living that moment for the rest of my life, but also many of these good moments as well (in the future).
“I think it just makes me excited to learn and be better.”
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On Friday Sarina Wiegman’s side will pit their wits against a US team ranked the No.1 in the world
Like the Lionesses, Vlatko Andonovski’s stars are regarded as being among the favourites to win the World Cup next year.
Since March 2017 England have triumphed once in their last five duels with their opponents registering three wins and a draw.
The USA’s victories include a semi-final knockout of Lionesses at the 2019 World Cup and a 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win in March 2020 during former England boss Phil Neville’s tenure.
On the threat, the USA will pose to England, Kelly added: “All oppositions bring a different challenge, and we have to be ready for the challenge, but we have so much quality in our squad.
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“I’m excited to see everyone out there again, but it’s not about getting carried away.
“There are so many months until the tournament next summer.
“It’s about learning in these moments and really learning as the year goes on and peaking when it matters.
The Lionesses will face their opponents without the services of Williamson, 25, with the England defender sustaining an injury during a training session on Tuesday.
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Kelly added: “Leah’s a great leader and of course, we’ll miss her.
“We have such great depth in our squad and such great strength in our squad.
“There are so many great leaders with experience so it’s all about coming together in these moments when you do lose a player like her.”
