Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring for England against Australia on Tuesday night, showing just why she is the Lionesses’ top scorer this season.
But the evening ended less promisingly for her – limping off the pitch and doing her post-match interviews with ice strapped to her right leg.
Indeed, the Chelsea forward’s departure from the game left England with only ten players on the pitch as all their replacements had been used – including one for Michelle Agyemang, stretchered off with what seemed to be a serious knee injury after coming on as a sub herself.
But Beever-Jones offered some reassurance about her own fitness to worried fans after the match.
“I’m OK,” she said to broadcasters ITV. “It’s obviously frustrating, I didn’t want to come off. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture, and it’s a friendly.
“Luckily they were down to ten men so I didn’t have too big of an impact.
“I’ll be OK. Just wrap up and get some recovery in.”
“It’s nice to get a win after a loss”
Reflecting on her own performance, she said that she hadn’t known that she was the squad’s top scorer.
“Playing football brings out the best in me if I’m honest, wherever I’m playing,” she said. “I don’t really look at the stats too much. I just come here, focus, try and show Sarina what I can do.
“You saw it today, I was on the wing a little bit, which is something I haven’t done in a while but again I love playing for England no matter where I am.”
And she was pleased to help the team bounce back from the weekend’s defeat against Brazil.
“It’s always nice to get a win after a loss. Even at half-time we said, ‘We’re creating a lot, we’re keeping the ball really well, but can we be more clinical in the final third and make better decisions?’
“I definitely think it’s something we could have worked on today. Saying that, I think it was a really good team performance. I think we kept the ball really well, there weren’t many unforced errors.
“It was really nice to get back in an England shirt and show everyone what we can do at a wonderful stadium with so many fans after an incredible summer.”
Aggie Beever-Jones has the right attitude – Ian Wright
And the television pundits were delighted to see Beever-Jones playing so well.
“She was so bright, she was making really good runs from in to out between the centre backs and full backs, and making herself a nuisance and also asking questions of Sarina, because I’m sure she wants to play every single minute she can for England,” said Anita Asante.
And Ian Wright added: “She’s someone who’s stepped in, even for Chelsea, with the injuries that Chelsea have had to forwards, she’s come in and she’s scored goals.
“[For England] She’s been the number two to Lessi [Alessia Russo], waiting for her chance. She’ll play anywhere up front for England. What you’ve got to do when you get into that situation is try to score a goal, to keep your name amongst it so as you can get to play – the main thing is to get to play.
“Every time she’s played – she’s ended up top scorer for England this season – she scores, she does well. She’s got the right attitude for it at the moment.”
