A back injury ruled Jordan Nobbs out for a large chunk of the year, but the Arsenal midfielder still managed to start seven of England’s 13 matches in 2014.
She featured in Mark Sampson’s first game as head coach, a 1-1 draw with Norway in La Manga in January, before turning out twice in the Cyprus Cup – both victories over Italy and Canada.
The 22-year-old then had to endure a long spell on the sidelines, but made her England comeback in the impressive 4-0 win over Sweden in Hartlepool.
Indeed, it was Nobbs’s cross that Karen Carney was in search of when bundled over inside the box. Carney dusted herself down and converted the subsequent spot-kick to give the Three Lions the lead.
Nobbs retained her place in the starting eleven for the 4-0 win over Wales that sealed England’s place at next summer’s World Cup – and she came close to getting herself on the scoresheet, hitting the bar with a thumping drive.
Nobbs played the opening 45 minutes of the 10-0 win over Montenegro in September before ending her year by almost scoring the fastest goal in Wembley history.
Against Germany in November, Nobbs shut down Melanie Behringer straight from kick-off, played a one-two with Lianne Sanderson and thumped a 25-yarder against the woodwork. There were just eight seconds on the clock as the ball crashed off the crossbar.
