Casey Stoney has been pivotal in Arsenal Ladies’ Super League campaign this season. Picture: The FA via Getty Images

Published: 28 May, 2015
by CATHERINE ETOE

DEFENDER Casey Stoney has praised Arsenal Ladies and manager Pedro Martinez Losa for helping to get her England career back on track after she was named in the squad for the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in Canada next Saturday.  

Stoney skippered England for almost two years following the international retirement of former Gunner Faye White, but she lost the captaincy when Mark Sampson took over as new head coach in late 2013. 

Injury kept Stoney out of Sampson’s first squad and she has only featured in one full match since – but the Arsenal player has battled hard to remain in the manager’s thoughts and has been rewarded with a place in the 23-strong group which arrived in Canada on Monday. 

Speaking at the England squad announcement at Canada House in Trafalgar Square, the 33-year-old said: “I’m in the shape of my life and think I’m playing some of the best football I’ve played, I’m happy and enjoying my football. Arsenal have really helped me and Pedro has given me a massive lift during a year where I’ve probably lacked confidence and been low in terms of believing whether I’m still good enough. 

“When you don’t play, you feel like you are not good enough but he has valued me,” she added. “I’ve played an awful lot of minutes for Arsenal and he says how much of a key player I am in that team. 

“We try to play the right way and I’m always confident when I play for Arsenal and I really need to try and bring that to England now.” 

Stoney signed for Arsenal in January 2014 and is in her second stint at the club, having first turned out for the Gunners as a teenager in the late 1990s. 

She joins fellow Arsenal players Jordan Nobbs, Siobhan Chamberlain, Lianne Sanderson and Alex Scott in the England line-up. 

The mum of two has 117 England caps under her belt and although it is unlikely that she will play in another Women’s World Cup – this will be her third – she is determined to play a part in Canada.  

“I’ve not been able to contribute as much as I would have liked on the pitch so if you can’t contribute on it you have to off it and that will be one of my roles,” she said. 

“I would love to think I’m going to get playing time out in Canada but I am there as a shoulder and an ear because I’ve been there before and it’s very selfish to think you can go over there and just play your part – no, we’re a team and if that’s my responsibility I’ll relish it.” 

England kick off their World Cup campaign on  June 9 against France in Moncton. 

• Catherine Etoe is co-author of FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015: The Official Guide.