Woody wins call-up

Four Nations Tournament
England, China, USA and Germany
21-31 January 2007
Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre, China
Four Nations Full Schedule - Click Here

England Head Coach Hope Powell has named her 20 player squad for the Four Nations Tournament in Guangzhou City later this month, which sees the recall of Emily Westwood, with China, USA and Germany the opponents.

Everton midfielder Westwood was the only player from outside the top flight to make the final cut for the 2005 European Championship [when at Wolverhampton Wanderers] but since moving to Everton, has been hampered by injury.

In a league fixture against Arsenal in October 2005, Emily sustained an articular cartilage injury and her rehabilitation was further hampered when she required another operation for a micro-fracture.

However, a substitute appearance for The Toffees in August at The FA Women's Community Shield signalled her comeback, followed by a call-up into an England training camp the same month.

After getting some valuable game action under her belt since the start of this season, Emily will now be hoping to make her first appearance for England since the 4-1 away victory to Austria at the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

One player who has mixed memories of her last appearance against China is Alex Scott. The Arsenal full-back, who is equally at home in midfield, was earning the seventh cap of her burgeoning international career when the two sides met in a play-off game at the 2005 Algarve Cup.

With the scoreline at 0-0 after ninety minutes on a very hot Spring morning, the game went to penalties and Alex was the only player from either side to have her penalty saved.

Alex took time out from teaching Sports Science to young sportsmen and women from Arsenal Ladies, Saracens Rugby Club and St Albans City FC at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire to talk to TheFA.com today.

"Looking back then it felt like the end of the world but a lot has happened since then and you have to put it behind you and learn from the experience."

The 22 year old now has 21 caps and has bagged four goals, including the opener in the 5-1 defeat away to Germany in October.

"It was really strange as the crowd in Aalen were so noisy and then when I broke through and lobbed their 'keeper, it all went really quiet. I wasn't sure that the ball had gone in until the referee signalled back to the middle, so that's why my celebration was a bit low-key!"

The 5-1 defeat against the reigning European and World champions brought the squad back down to earth with a bump after qualifying for September's World Cup. How far does Alex feel the squad have come over the last eighteen months?

"I think the squad and players have really grown up on the field and we're definitely a more experienced unit now. Players like Karen Carney, Anita Asante (above), Eniola Aluko and myself had just a few caps between us at at Euro 2005 but the whole squad knows what is expected of them, is more familiar with each other and we're also getting fitter and fitter" she said.

In the build-up to Euro 2005, Alex confessed that she had to sometimes pinch herself that she was in the squad, let alone the starting line-up. She now also feels that she has decided on her best position.

"I feel that playing at right-back I can attack from deep using my pace and have also become stronger against physical players. Coaches know that i'm versatile and I will play anywhere i'm asked to; I just love playing."

Physical strength will be needed in abundance against China, USA and Germany but Alex feels that the squad will continue on their learning curve by playing against quality opposition.

"We're all motivated to play the best we can each time we play, but I think it's only natural that you raise your game even higher when you come up against the best sides in the world.

"I'm really looking forward to playing against people like Abby Wambach who for me is one of the best players in the world.

"The year ahead is a huge one for every player in England as it's everyone's dream to play in a World Cup. I'm still young and learning all the time, and whatever happens, these games later in the month can only help us make an impact when it comes to the 'real' action in September."

England Squad: