Esme Morgan boasts the all qualities of a future Lionesses captain, according to Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor.
The 22-year-old defender was handed the captain’s armband for the first time under Taylor as City faced Reading on Sunday in the WSL. Morgan's composure in the backline was on full display as City cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Royals thanks to two own goals from Emma Mukandi and Khadija Shaw’s seventh goal of the campaign.
The win marked City’s fourth successive league win and while compatriot Lauren Hemp rightfully grabbed the headlines as her scintillating performance on the left wing ran Reading ragged and ultimately produced all three of City’s goals, it was Morgan’s burgeoning leadership qualities that were the subject of Taylor’s plaudits.
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Speaking to the club's official site after the win, Taylor said : “She’s one of four captains we have at the club, chosen by the players: Steph, Alex, Vicky and Esme.
“I have always said with Esme that I think she’s a future England captain. She’s going to go right to the top, I think, with what she’s capable of doing and her work ethic.”
Reading’s immediate bristling intensity stirred a few errors from Morgan and Laia Aleixandri, who filled in for Alex Greenwood, but Morgan’s ability to remain calm saw her produce another typically classy performance.
Consigned to the touchline for much of last season through injury, Morgan has established herself as an undroppable rock at the heart of Taylor’s defence, featuring in five of the six league fixtures this season and helping to bring some solidity to Taylor's side after a cagey start to the campaign.
Morgan’s most recent showing helped secure City's third clean sheet and stands them in good stead to challenge league leaders Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea after the November international break.
“My life the last year has been a rollercoaster but I knew there would be a time when I could come back stronger,” Morgan told City’s media team after the match while reflecting on her journey. “I feel so comfortable in myself at the minute.”
Morgan’s impressive start to the season has been duly recognised at international level as she earned a second call-up to Sarina Wiegman’s squad earlier this week, having made her England debut in September during the Lionesses’ goalless draw with the Czech Republic.
While Wiegman’s penchant for sticking to a tested starting XI is well known, Morgan’s professional performance against Reading might just augment a steadily growing argument for a full international debut in one of England’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and Norway.
City return to WSL action on November 19 when they travel to Everton for their seventh game of the campaign.
