'Pretty incredible' - Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps speaks out after being awarded honorary doctorate from Loughborough University for services to sport

The 30-year-old earned received a degree in information management and business studies from the university in 2016 but returned to her alma matter this week to accept another accolade thanks to her exploits for her national team and Manchester United.

"To be awarded an honorary doctorate is pretty incredible," Earps told the university's website. "It’s even more special to come back to where I studied and gained a degree in 2016. Life at Loughborough back then was what I thought was manic, little did I know life was going to get a lot more manic later down the line. It’s great to be part of the growth of women’s football. Many people have come before us and we’ve stood on their shoulders and benefited from that. Hopefully, future generations will equally benefit from what we’ve achieved in this time."

The honorary degree is just the latest platitude for the shot stopper, who has been given award after award recently, including having a tram named after her in Nottingham. After accepting The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper prize in 2022, she then went on to play a key role in England's journey to the Women's World Cup final and was given the tournament's Golden Glove. She was also named BBC Women's Footballer of the Year and has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award as well as a second consecutive The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper for this year.

While she awaits news on the awards she is still nominated for, Earps will feature for Manchester United as they take on Liverpool in the Women's Super League this week. The Red Devils are four the in the table while Liverpool sit three points behind them.