Manchester City captain and former England Lioness skipper Steph Houghton continues to voice her unwavering support for her international teammates ahead of this Summer’s World Cup - despite her own squad snub.
The centre-back will miss out on the summer tournament despite working relentlessly for her return, but remains supportive of her fellow teammates in the build-up to Australia and New Zealand as she prepares for her 10th season with the Sky Blues.
Houghton told the Daily Mail “I think they have an opportunity to create even more history. On current form, I think we are favourites. You don’t win a Euros and not be one of the favourites.
"I know so many of the players and I see how hard they work. I’m desperate for us to do it but it will be tough."
The 35-year-old has 121 caps for England under her belt and took the captain's armband in January 2014 under Mark Sampson drawing her first game in charge 1-1 against Norway.
Houghton led England to their first semi-final finish the 2015 World Cup in Canada and again in the France 2019 World Cup, falling short of third place with a 2-1 loss to Sweden.
But this year she hopes the European Champion squad can take it one step further and get their hands on some silverware in the land down under.
It’s a bittersweet moment to watch from the sideline as your fellow teammates reach the top without you - Houghton was left out of the Euros squad due to an Achilles injury.
She passed the armband onto Leah Williamson, who hands it to Millie Bright now after being ruled out with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.
Her international predecessor Katie Chapman was of similar calibre both as a player and captain on the field - vocal and robust in the middle of the park, while Houghton holds the last line of defence.
But, perhaps she’s a different type of leader, arguably more traditional old-school to the new age of football. It’s no surprise that Manchester City operates on a multi-captaincy and leadership model inside their changing rooms.
City boss Gareth Taylor described Houghton as “very vocal and very supportive of her teammates", just as different personalities and leadership approaches can pull the best out of one person and yet unintentionally snub another.
Equally, with an England squad full of leaders in their own right, inclusive of City’s Morgan and Greenwood, and now Bright in her no-nonsense style, perhaps there's less room for Houghton’s approach. But once a captain, always a captain, Houghton will support her English teammates, even if from afar.
