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“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” remarked England boss Sarina Wiegman with a smile.

To Lucia Kendall, the moment carried similar weight.

This comment came as Wiegman spoke about the young midfielder’s ecstatic reaction to her maiden England goal – six minutes into a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“The ground staff might need to repair that turf!” she joked, poking fun at Kendall’s flawless knee slide.

As the 21-year-old stood up, puffing out her cheeks and engulfed by her team-mates, a wide smile appeared on her face.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Southampton was her home for ten years; she was a familiar face there after coming through the academy and making 103 appearances prior to her July move to Aston Villa.

So when she saw the ball hit the back of the net at St Mary's Stadium on her homecoming, and on only her third England appearance, it was the stuff of dreams.

“To do it here, where I was raised, was an immensely special moment. This place shaped the player I am,” Kendall stated.

“It appeared as though it was fate. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”

A Rapid Rise to Prominence

While Southampton played a key role in her development, a significant choice at 15 was vital for her prospects.

Despite being a capable cricketer (her father played for Hampshire), the impending demands of senior football at Southampton forced her hand. She went with football.

“It was an interesting one. There was no time for me to do both anymore,” Kendall said in a recent media conference.

“I loved playing cricket growing up. It was a really difficult decision. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I knew I enjoy football a bit more.”

Growing up admiring Chelsea and Frank Lampard’s goal-getting midfield exploits, Kendall is starting her own path with comparable attacking output.

Balancing her football at Southampton with university studies in psychology highlighted the discipline and ambition needed to excel.

Southampton held onto their prized asset as long as possible, but upon her contract expiry, Villa secured her signature to the WSL.

Within months the Winchester-born player has risen to prominence, becoming a regular in the top flight and earning a place in the England squad.

“She shows consistency and that's not easy when you just come into a new environment and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” admitted Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

The midfielder had a lively game, later rattling the bar and nearly creating a goal for Kearns, prior to Russo’s late penalty.

Her substitution on the hour mark was met with a resounding reception from fans and an announcer proudly declaring her local roots.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she commented, “The faith and regular playing time I received from 16 made all the difference.

“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.

“Entering the England setup, I was aware I had to demonstrate my worth. The increased pace felt like a step up in class.”

Acknowledgment of Her Football Intelligence

Her seamless transition to the international stage has led to praise for her innate midfield qualities and natural demeanour.

Wiegman is eager to protect her, saying the media can play a role in that and so can Villa, but she has no concerns because of how “humble” Kendall conducts herself.

Shortly after her maiden call-up, she spoke to reporters, expressing a desire to contribute while understanding the importance of the collective.

Teammate Alessia Russo observed that Kendall settled as if she’d always been there.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to