Everton striker Chloe Kelly has capped a fabulous start to the campaign by being crowned September’s Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month.
Kelly brilliantly scored twice in her team’s 2-0 win over Bristol City on 15 September as Everton started their WSL campaign with back-to-back victories.
She advanced to lash a right-foot shot in off the post from 20 yards for her first against Bristol at Southport.
With the dust settling on that strike, Kelly conjured an even better one, manufacturing a stunning first-time 30-yard hit which rocketed into the top corner and left goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley helpless.
“This award means a lot to me, it adds to my confidence and shows I have been working hard and doing the right things,” Kelly told evertonfc.com.
“It is another indication I am going in the right direction.
“The second goal against Bristol was one of the best I have scored.
“Because of the first one, when the second came to me I thought, ‘I am going to hit it’.
“I got a lot of power from a standing start and hit it well. I knew as soon as it left my foot it was going in.”
Kelly is joint-top of the WSL scoring charts, tied on two with Pauline Bremer of Manchester City, Arsenal’s Danielle van de Donk and Norway and Chelsea midfielder Guro Reiten.
Tipped by club manager Willie Kirk to establish herself in the national team set-up, Kelly was called up by England boss Phil Neville for the Lionesses 1-0 friendly win over Portugal this week.
The 21-year-old didn’t add to her one senior international appearance against Austria last November but is eyeing next month’s prestige Wembley encounter with Germany as a potential chance to win cap number two.
“It was a great experience with England and an opportunity to learn from top players,” said Kelly, who is back in action for Everton on Sunday when Kirk takes his fourth-place side to Reading for the Blues’ latest WSL encounter.
“It is an environment where I thrive and I was buzzing when I was called into the squad.
“I thought I might get on when we were making some late substitutions but I will keep working hard at Everton and hopefully get my chance next time.
“It would be a dream come true to play at Wembley but I am focussing on my club. I will get my head down and keep doing what I am and, hopefully, that will be recognised.”
Chloe Kelly is the inaugural recipient of the Barclays Player of the Month award.
The monthly player and manager winners are chosen by the combination of a Barclays FA WSL Awards Panel featuring ex-players and managers, administrators, journalists and broadcasters who work across women’s football, and an online public vote.