GREAT SCOTT

Neville: Jill’s sensational. She wins every tackle, every header & can go on playing until she’s 40

PHIL NEVILLE has claimed Jill Scott is “irreplaceable” at the heart of the Lionesses’ World Cup assault.

The Manchester City midfielder kicked-off her campaign with a dominant showing against Scotland.

Neville may choose to rest Scott, 32, against Argentina in Le Havre, on Friday, in England’s next Group D clash. But, then again, judging from his words, he risks an ear-bashing if he does.

He said: “Jill has been sensational for the last three games – versus Denmark, probably the best, against Spain the player of the match, and against Scotland up there with the best.

“She’s irreplaceable. Her size, her quality, her energy up and down the pitch. Our game plan against Scotland was about Jill getting up the pitch and robbing the opposition, which she did time and time again.

“She’s a throwback to when players just go down injured and get up without moaning. She wins every tackle, wins every header.

“She’s infectious. She has real quality. She’s a coach for me on the pitch, she really is.

“Jill can play until she’s 40. Her and Lucy Bronze are the quickest on the fitness tests that we do. She never misses a training session. If you ask her to drop out of one, she goes mad at you. She’s built like a marathon runner. That’s why she’s so fit.

“And 32 is a young age for a midfield player. Yes, there will be times when we have to rest her, but her energy levels are frightening. And in terms of her statistics, she’s one of the best we have got.

“That’s why she has got another two or three tournaments left with me.”

England travelled to their base near Le Havre yesterday and will rest today before preparing to face the South Americans.

Given the intensity of the first clash, Neville is expected to make changes, particularly as Argentina are seen as the weakest of the four nations in Group D. However, he will not alter the style of play.

England almost caught a cold against the Scots when skipper Steph Houghton’s misplaced pass ended with Claire Emslie pulling back a late goal. But Neville insists he is not for turning.

“There’s only one way we are going to play and it is the only way we are going to get our teams to play,” he added. “We have to develop this system and it’s the right way to play. We are going to make mistakes because we are that open.

“Yes, we gave the ball away for the goal, but we were trying to do the right thing. We were trying to pass it through midfield and I cannot criticise them for that.”

The Lionesses’ 2-1 victory over Scotland on Sunday broke TV records, peaking at 6.1million viewers on BBC One. It became the UK’s most watched women’s football game of all time and had 37.8 per cent of the available audience.