Laura Coombs wasn't even contemplating England after seven years away from the international scene.
But the Man City midfielder has now put herself right in the mix to be named as one of Sarina Wiegman's midfielders this summer, when the Lionesses look to win back-to-back major tournaments down under after last summer's Euros triumph. Coombs has been one City's most consistent performers in the WSL this season, helping her side fightback to be right in the title mix as they head for the crucial run-in, after they opened the campaign with consecutive defeats.
That starts when Chelsea visit the Academy Stadium for a huge clash on Sunday as part of women's football weekend. Coombs will be looking to help City extend their unbeaten league run and give a shot in the arm to their title chances.
She is enjoying an excellent campaign that saw her called up by Wiegman and feature for England in the Arnold Clark Cup. But the 32-year-old told Mirror Football that way back in August before a ball was kicked in anger, her sole focus was on fighting for her place at Man City.
"England honestly wasn't on my radar," she said. "Coming into pre-season I just thought. 'I need the best pre-season possible to get in the (Man City) team, everything has come from that.
"I wasn't thinking about anything else at all. Being here is enough pressure. You are expected to compete in every competition and fight not just to be in the top three but to win the league.
"That is no different this year despite the high turnover we had in the summer. We bought in a real high calibre of player, so the ambition was unchanged.
"I just wanted to keep building on my involvement at City and make more contributions per game, thinking about my goals return, my assists return things like that."
City are still in with a great chance of winning the WSL having not lost since the second game of the season. They face Chelsea, the last club to beat them in the league on Sunday, where a win will see City go above the title holders.
But any chance of a league and cup double disappeared after a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last week. The FA Cup quarter final went to extra-time after finishing 1-1, only for Rachel Daly to pop-up and score a 97th minute winner.
Despite such a cruel defeat, Coombs feels that morale in the dressing room is still high ahead of mouth-watering clash with Chelsea. She expects the strong mentality of her teammates to see City through.
"We felt like we dominated and created enough chances," said Coombs. "It was just one of those days where it didn't happen for us. But we only went out in extra-time, we also took Arsenal to extra time in the Conti Cup, these are fine margins.
"We have to take confidence from that. It's similar to when we were knocked out by Arsenal in the semi-final then played them in the league on the Sunday. That week the focus was really on in training, everyone was so up for it.
"These are must win games for us, but as a group everyone relishes that. Everyone will be ready. We have a lot of strong minded characters in our dressing room.
"Training is intense every week and we take defeats personally. Going into Sunday, we know this is massive for us and we know we're capable of winning the game. That is what everyone will focus on. We can beat anyone in the league."
If Coombs can run the engine room in such a big game, Wiegman could well be tempted to keep her in the England squad for the upcoming games against Australia and Brazil. If that happens could the FIFA Women's World Cup be on the cards this summer?
"I mean I would love to be part of the (England) group that goes in the summer," Coombs added. "That would be amazing. I think I will allow myself to start thinking about that only if I get selected for the April camp.
"Then it will become a goal that is really within my grasps. If I don't get selected it will be another thought process.
"But I'm going to do everything I can between now and the end of the season to get myself in that squad."
NEW! Our Year: European Champions 2022 - The Official England Winners Book
With a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.
Order from https://reachsportshop.com/book/our-year-european-champion-2022/
