'I just really love playing for England' - Arsenal star Leah Williamson admits she feels '10 times stronger' in the Lionesses shirt after making first international appearance in a year

In an entertaining match against Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday night, England secured their first victory in the qualifiers for the 2025 Women's Euro with a resounding 2-0 win with Williamson donning the armband. Goals from Lauren James and Alex Greenwood propelled the Lionesses to success, marking a significant rebound from their disappointing draw against Sweden earlier in the week.

Despite the collective achievement, all eyes were on Arsenal star Williamson, whose journey back to the international stage has been nothing short of inspiring. Overcoming a devastating ACL injury sustained last April, which sidelined her for nine months and forced her to miss England's campaign in the World Cup finals in Australia, Williamson showcased incredible resilience and determination in her comeback on the international circuit.

Speaking to ITV Sport after the match, Williamson said: "It's been a long time coming. Honestly, I just really, really love playing for England. When I put this badge on, I feel 10 times taller, 10 times stronger. I don't know. The girls are such a great group of girls and I loved every second of that.

"I had my eyes set on this. These days, with an ACL, you come back hopefully in a healthy way but I wanted to be good enough to play for England again. The standards are so high and the players that have been here have made them higher. This was the thought so I feel like today is sort of a completion of that journey. Everyone tells me it'll take a while for my body to feel like it used to but yeah, see out the season and then hopefully just keep getting stronger."

Williamson suffered a hamstring issue that sidelined her during the February international window. However, she forced her way into the matchday squad against Sweden on Friday but remained limited to the substitutes' bench.

As England continue their quest for glory in the Women's Euro 2025 qualifiers, Williamson's resurgence offers a beacon of hope and inspiration to the Lionesses. But for now, she will shift her focus back to club football and will return to action on Sunday when Arsenal host Bristol City in the WSL.