28 October 2023 , 11:00
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Fran Kirby said she was grateful for "incredible" support after receiving a huge ovation in her first international appearance in over a year.
The Chelsea star, 30, came off the bench on the hour mark during the Lionesses 1-0 win over Belgium in the Nations League to a huge ovation after her injury absence. Kirby missed the World Cup finals over the summer due to a knee injury which required surgery.
Her introduction helped bring a new energy and directness to the England side, with the crowd inside the King Power Stadium willing her to cap her return with a goal. That didn't happen, but the hosts saw out the win, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the Nations League finals.
Kirby, who last appeared for the Lionesses in a 0-0 draw with Czech Republic last October, said after her return that it was like she'd never been away the international scene. "I've really enjoyed it," said Kirby. "But coming back in, you don't really feel like you've been away, that's just how it is seeing these faces.
"But yeah I've really enjoyed tonight. I was working hard over the summer to try and get back as quickly as possible and, being able to be involved tonight, it was really special. The support that I’ve had over the last year has been incredible from both sets of fans, national team and from Chelsea, that was really nice.
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"I think at the beginning of my injury it was quite tough because you don't really know when the end of the injury is, and I think I accepted quite early on that I wasn't going to be part of the World Cup squad, so, not that it made it any easier, but I was able to support the girls and kind of feel the same emotions that they were going through."
The England squad has undergone plenty of tweaks since Kirby was last involved. Youngsters Grace Clinton and Khiara Keating were called up for the Belgium double-header, while Kirby's Chelsea teammate Niamh Charles was given a rare start at left-back.
Fran Kirby got a huge reception from the crowd when coming off the benchAnd the England No.14 is enjoying her role as one of the senior players in Wiegman's squad. "It didn't take long (to bed back into the England team)," Kirby said. "Obviously I know a lot of the girls from playing against them.
"Everyone that’s come in has brought a new fresh face, a new standard, and it’s been nice to be in training around them and get to know them a bit more personally. I don’t think I need to mould in at all, I’m probably one of the oldest players here now, so I think I know what I’m doing."
England were lacklustre at times during the win over the Red Flames, struggling for fluency in the second half. But the three points sets them up nicely for the return game on Tuesday, where another win could take them to the top of Group A1.
Replacing Ella Toone, Kirby was introduced alongside Rachel Daly as Wiegman freshened up her attack after Belgium started to grow into the game. And Kirby gave an insight into WSL Golden Boot winner Daly's final touchline advice to her before she joined the action.
"She (Daly) was super supportive," Kirby added. "Obviously, we got to go on together and she was just saying how happy she was to have me back and around the girls.
"She said when I get the ball to just run with it. It was nice to hear that from a team-mate, that they’re happy to have you back and they’ve missed you."