Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs is back from a three-month injury enforced absence and aiming to help England get the result needed against Wales on Thursday to qualify for the 2015 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.
By Tony Leighton
After recovering from a back problem and returning to international action in the recent 4-0 win against Sweden, Nobbs should be in the team that steps out at the Cardiff City Stadium needing only a draw to guarantee qualification.
Not that the 21-year-old Gunner, who scored the opening goal in England’s 2-0 victory over Wales in the reverse fixture at Millwall in October, will settle for a point from what is the penultimate qualifying group game for each team.
“I’ve never gone into a game wanting to draw,” said Nobbs, “and that’s not about to change now. We’ve won all of our qualifiers so far and we want to keep the 100 per cent record going right the way to the end of the group matches.
“It will be difficult against Wales, though. They’re a strong team who can get goals and who showed last October that they can also defend really well. They’re a hard team to break down, but that will be the aim and we’ll be looking to win.”
Nobbs is delighted to be playing again after suffering a stress fracture in her back when England met Canada at the Cyprus Cup in March. “It was the first injury I’ve had and it was hard to deal with,” she said, “especially because it was so bad.
“I knew it was a serious injury as soon as it happened. It was a really tough road back to fitness, but I’ve come through it and after playing a few games back in the Arsenal team it was really good to be back with England for the Sweden game.”
The friendly against the Swedes was played at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park, a very special venue for Nobbs as her father Keith spent eight years of his professional soccer career playing as a defender for the Football League club.
“It was a great occasion for us,” said Nobbs junior, who was born in nearby Stockton. “It was one of the best games that I’ve had with an England shirt on, and the result against one of the best teams in the world was a massive bonus.
“We needed a test like that and it set us up really well for the game against Wales. Hopefully we can get the result we need to reach Canada and I can then get in the squad that goes to the finals – that would be a big dream come true.”
Jordan Nobbs was speaking to She Kicks at Now Vauxhall Heathrow at an event with the England team sponsor Vauxhall
Pictured – Jordan Nobbs with Wales keeper Nicky Davies at Now Vauxhall Heathrow.
She Kicks – the online news service for women’s football
