DREAM TEAM

BETH MEAD – The Sunderland striker chooses her favourite XI, made up from players she has played with in her football career.

GOALKEEPERI Rachael Laws – Sunderland

She’s in the England set-up and though she’s been injured recently she’s back to fitness and showing her class with us. She’s a big character as our vice-captain and she keeps everyone in line at the back.

RIGHT BACKI Martha Harris – Liverpool

I’ve played with Martha a few times in the England U23s, and we were also part of the U20 World Cup squad last year. She’s very quick and does the simple things so effectively. She’s bubbly and there’s always a bit of banter between us.

CENTRE BACKSI Steph Bannon – Sunderland

She’s one of those players who you never see put a foot wrong, a great leader for us and one of the main reasons why we’re doing so well this year. On and off the pitch you do not want to cross her!

Satara Murray – Liverpool

She’s really hard to play against, an absolute tank – players just seem to bounce off her. Her pace and physicality make her a nightmare really, you struggle to find your way around her as a striker.

LEFT BACKI Alex Greenwood – Notts County

She’s got a wand of a left foot, is technically a very accomplished player and starred for England at the World Cup. You don’t get much change out of her and she’s got a clever footballing brain, too.

RIGHTIWINGI Jess Sigsworth – Notts County

She moved to Notts County from Doncaster over the winter and she’s not currently playing much, but having played with her for England she’s one of the quickest players I’ve seen. She’s in the mould of a Gemma Davison, who can run at you at with amazing speed. We’ve been playing together since we were 14.

CENTRALI MIDFIELDERSI Rachel Furness – Sunderland

She’s always there to break up play and probably has the best aerial ability of any player I’ve come across. She’s also very vocal and is one of those players you’re grateful to have behind you as a striker.

Sherry McCue – Aston Villa

She’s a very underappreciated player and always does the nitty-gritty for you that no one else wants to do. With the England U23s, she did much the same role as Jade (Moore) does for the senior side. She’s a players’ player – she may not get the plaudits but on the pitch you’re always thankful for her.

LEFTIWINGI Melissa Lawley – Birmingham City

Like Jess, she’s amazingly quick and you need two wingers like that. She’s hard to get near when she’s in full pelt. Though Birmingham haven’t been doing very well this year, she seems to be the standout in a lot of their games.

STRIKERSI Nikita Parris – Manchester City

I played with her for many years and she certainly knows where the back of the net is. She always gets in the right positions. It wouldn’t surprise me if she gets her first England cap soon – she’s being doing very well for Manchester City.

Danielle Carter – Arsenal

She’s a little bit older than me and in the England set-up she was always a player I aspired to be like – you’d watch her up close and think ‘that’s the level I need to get to’. She is very quick and now she’s got that bit of experience she’ll go from strength to strength.