JORDAN NOBBS admits there were “difficult” moments when knee injuries thwarted her dreams of playing in three big tournaments.
But now the Aston Villa ace is ready to aid Lionesses’ quest to lift the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Nobbs involvement in this year’s contest, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, comes 14 months after a strained knee ligament derailed her Euros squad selection hopes.
That injury was sustained during her spell as an Arsenal star with the Gunners’ drubbing Villa 7-0.
Since that result last May Nobbs has helped the Villans register their highest ever finish in the WSL.
Past knee problems for the former Arsenal ace also kiboshed her chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup for the Lionesses and the Tokyo Olympics for Team GB in 2021.
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Of her journey back from injuries, Nobbs said: “I think you do go into a place where you do self-sabotage and sit and mope around for a bit.
“Then, once you’re up and going again, your goal is to get back on that pitch.
“It’s a difficult time but that feeling of you getting back is what you need.
“You have the hype of the tournament. That’s everywhere, you can’t get away from it.
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“For me, it took a long time to get that motivation to get going.”
A lack of first team action at Arsenal last term spurred Nobbs’ move to Aston Villa this January following 200 Gunners appearances over 12 years.
The switch paid off with Nobbs helping Carla Ward’s side finishing fifth in the WSL with England team-mate Daly winning the league’s Golden Boot.
The Durham-born football star, who has 71 senior Lionesses caps, adds: "I knew with regular game time I could get back to my best.
"And having a manager like Carla who gave me a licence to play and enjoy my football again.
"I kind of had that weight off my shoulders of ‘am I going to play, or not going to play?’
"Fifth spot was our aim at Villa and that was huge for us. That was the mentality I went with."
Nobbs’ Villa move was also partly spurred by her wish to regain her spot in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses’ squad.
Of her transfer and Gunners departure, said: "It was a risk to a certain extent but with the limited game-time I was getting, I had nothing to lose as well.
"Naturally, there were a lot of tears and it was difficult to leave a club that I loved and owe a lot to.
"But when it comes to wanting to drive towards another major tournament I think I had to do everything possible.
"When you have missed out or not been available for selection your mentality is: ‘I need to do everything to get there.’
Nobbs’ efforts for Villa, who knocked Man City out of the FA Cup last season, saw her named in Wiegman’s 23-strong World Cup squad.
And she hopes to make her mark when England face Group D rivals Haiti on July 22 eight days after their warm-up against Canada.
The midfielder, who scored on her senior Lionesses debut back in 2013, added: "Everyone knows the journey I’ve been on
"To be part of this one and such a talented squad it’s an unbelievable feeling.
"I’ve got to respect what the girls have done and achieved over the past few years.
"Whenever I’ve come into a squad I’ve tried to my best on and off the pitch, work as hard as I can and be as professional as possible.
"I think there’s still a lot of experience, regardless of caps but I’m going into the older category now.
"With England you are with the best of the best. I need to perform, train as well as I can and be available for selection.
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"Carla gave me that confidence to go again and allow me to be in the position I am now.
"She gave me a lot of love, and game time. Sometimes, it’s the small things that allow you to shine on the pitch."
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