Explained: Mary Earps' key quality that makes Lionesses and Man Utd star ‘unrivalled’ in world football

The Red Devils goalkeeper has established a reputation as one of the brightest stars in the women’s game. Earps is a European Championship winner and World Cup finalist with England. She has also collected a number of individual awards, including the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper gong and BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize.

Earps has come a long way in a short space of time, having come close to quitting international football at one stage, and is considered to boast mental strength – alongside her natural ability – that separates her from her sporting rivals.

Skinner has told talkSPORT of what makes Earps special: “I've known Mary a long time - since she was 16 at Leicester. The growth she has had in the mental part of the game is unrivalled. It's the ability to make correct decisions under pressure. I feel that distinguishes between somebody who has just physical attributes, just technical attributes - it's when to make the right decision. When you come to that one moment, you might have one in the game, you've got to take it...It's got to be that one moment. And that's what we all remember. It's their ability to tune into that moment and make the right decision that I think escalates them above other players.”

Earps, who is now 31 years of age, is closing in on a half-century of appearances for the Lionesses. She will be hoping to hit that mark in April when England begin the defence of their continental crown by opening a qualification campaign for Euro 2025.