30 November 2023 , 15:06
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England star Lauren Hemp has revealed the three players who helped her settle at international level ahead as she prepares to win her 50th cap.
Hemp, still only 23, has become a key player for the Lionesses over the last few years, helping them to European Championship glory and a first ever World Cup final.
If she features against the Netherlands on Friday at Wembley, the City forward will win her 50th cap, having made her debut against Portugal in October 2019. The Norfolk flyer's meteoric rise to the top was capped with a run of world class performances in Australia over the summer, scoring in both England's quarter-final and semi-final wins.
Looking back over her time as a Lioness so far, Hemp praised three former players for the impact they've had on her career and personal development.
"Jill Scott was a massive one for me when I first arrived in the England squad,” Hemp said. "She just took me under her wing and took me out for coffee. I was like a little child to her really, but she took me everywhere and made me feel comfortable among the team.
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"Ellen White was another huge one for me, Karen Carney as well when I first joined was huge. They are probably the three most significant people who have helped me on my journey and where I am today."
Scott and White were part of the Euro 2022 alongside Hemp, where England won a first ever major tournament to bring football home, beating Germany in the final at Wembley. They also managed reach 100 caps for England during their stellar international careers. And Hemp hopes to follow in their footsteps.
"That's the dream (to get 100 caps) I work hard for every cap that I get," she explained. "To make 50 is the first step, then everyone after that is a bonus.
"It's exciting to think what I could achieve in the future. It's pretty surreal, and to do it at Wembley, there's no better place to do it. It would be an incredible feeling. Every cap is special to me but to make 50 would be incredible. If you told me that when I was younger I don't think I would have believed you.
"Every year I grow in confidence. I play my best football when I'm relaxed. There have been a lot of big games and standout moments for me over the last few years that I feel like I've really thrived in. Hopefully there will be many more of those in the future."
England have to win both games against the Dutch on Friday night and Scotland the following Tuesday, to have any hope of winning Group A1 and reaching the Nations League tournament finals. Hemp was part of the Team GB squad who competed in Tokyo at the previous Olympics in 2021.
Lauren Hemp recently delivered a match winning display in a high profile Manchester derby (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)And the Manchester City star says her England teammates haven't lost their hunger to reach another major tournament, despite their precarious qualifying position.
"I want to experience it again," she added. "I want to be at major tournaments every single year. We have seen what we can achieve as an England group. We all have that desire and we know what's expected and what's at stake for us."