PARRIS MATCH

Nikita & Raheem are old friends who dared to dream big and are now at the pinnacle of the game with England teams

THEY were once two kids who stared at each other over dinner in a Liverpool suburb, wondering if their dreams would be realised.

Now Nikita Parris is dining out at the top table of English football, alongside her friend Raheem Sterling.

Manchester City’s ace celebrated his 50th cap with the captain’s armband at the Nations League semi-final. Four days ago, Parris jetted off to France charged with making a difference for the Lionesses at the World Cup.

The duo’s friendship started when the brother of the Liverpool lass invited his mate around for some grub and the bond formed.

It was strengthened last month when they won the Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards.

Now Parris has been charged, like Sterling was 12 months ago in Russia, to carry the expectation of a nation on her shoulders.

She said: “We’ve been friends for many years, since he was playing at Liverpool in the academy. We’re about the same age – I’ve got a brother who’s about the same age as well. He came around one night for dinner. But I’ve got no idea what we said or ate – it was a while ago now!

“He’s a great role model. People see him every day and he has to deal with it. For me, ultimately, I’m in that environment too. I’m in a position where I can have an affect on young people. If people can take inspiration from me, that’s great.”

The Liverpudlian has just swapped Manchester City for European champions Lyon – and her own star is firmly on the rise.

Her pace and prowess in front of goal means head coach Phil Neville will be relying heavily on her to deliver. After narrowly missing out on selection for Canada four years ago, Parris

(right) is keen to make up for lost time.

She said: “Former boss Mark Sampson brought me into the squad to be a training player, 10 days before the World Cup.

“I knew I wasn’t going but I wanted to make sure all the girls going were best prepared to push on and had the sort of test they were going to get from the American, Canadian and French forwards.

“Of course, it was massively disappointing not to go. But I respected Mark’s decision. I hadn’t really been around the squad long enough. “I remember sitting down with him at Starbucks at St George’s Park – he had hot chocolate. I had a coffee. The moment ultimately determined which way I would go. “Would I give up or would I knuckle down and ensure I made the next Euros or World Cup. That’s what my plans were. I knew I would break into it if I gave it everything.”

Instead of heading out to Canada, Parris escaped to Egypt on holiday with her family to watch the drama.

“I can remember exactly where we were watching it,” she said. “The time-zones meant that it wasn’t on until 1.30am over there.

“My mum would wake me up, saying: ‘Nikita, time to get up, the game’s on in half-an-hour.’

“We would crowd around the laptop, hoping the wi-fi was strong enough for us to see the games.”

Parris, 25, has enjoyed a stellar campaign collecting 19 goals in the Women’s Super League.

That haul has pushed her claims for a start in Nice tomorrow and although head coach Phil Neville does have options, the striker’s pace gives her a natural advantage.

Parris added: “I’m in a great place, coming off the back off a good season. We have an expectation of ourselves. The girls in ‘09 won silver in the Euros, it’s time for gold.

“It is going to be hard but we’re ready for it.”