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Fran Kirby shook off suggestions she might feel intimidated by the new faces in England\u2019s camp after she returned from her long absence in the 1-0 victory over Belgium on Friday.<\/p>\n
Kirby had not played for England since the Lionesses faced the Czech Republic in a friendly last October and missed this year\u2019s World Cup after undergoing knee surgery.<\/p>\n
The Chelsea midfielder received a warm reception by the sold-out crowd in Leicester when she came on in the 65th minute of the Nations League clash.<\/p>\n
Kirby said: \u201cIt feels like I haven\u2019t been away. Obviously, I know a lot of the girls from playing against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who has come in has brought a fresh face and a new standard. It has been nice to be in training around them and getting to know them more personally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I need to mould in at all, I\u2019m probably one of the oldest players here now. I think I know what I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be on the pitch, it\u2019s nice to get a win, so I\u2019m happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been working really hard over the summer to try and get back as quickly as possible and to be involved tonight was really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirby, who has suffered a spate of injuries and fitness issues in recent years, announced in May she would be going under the knife to fix a knee issue that had long plagued her, with doctors determining surgery was the only way to rectify the situation.<\/p>\n
The 2019-20 season saw Kirby diagnosed with pericarditis, a heart condition, and in 2022 she was sidelined with a fatigue-related illness that led to her installing an oxygen tent at her home.<\/p>\n
As for this most recent problem, Kirby said: \u201cAt the beginning it was quite tough because you don\u2019t really know when the end of the injury is. I accepted quite early on that I wasn\u2019t going to be part of the World Cup squad, not that it made it any easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was able to support the girls and feel the same emotions that they were feeling and going through. Being back with them now just means that all of the hard work paid off in the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s victory moved the Lionesses up to second place in Group One, with a quick turnaround before they face Belgium again in Tuesday\u2019s return fixture.<\/p>\n
England need to finish top to advance in the tournament, which also serves as a qualifier for next summer\u2019s Olympics in Paris.<\/p>\n
Kirby\u2019s reception from supporters was perhaps second-loudest to only former Leicester goalkeeper Mary Earps, who seemed to elicit a roar every time she made a stop en route to earning England a first clean sheet since they faced Nigeria in the last-16 at the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Kirby said: \u201cThe support that I\u2019ve had over the past year has been incredible from fans \u2013 national team and Chelsea. I can\u2019t fault anyone for their support and that has been really pivotal for me coming back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating when I\u2019m injured and can\u2019t be out there, so to hear that reception when I came on is really special and it\u2019s something that I won\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been working really hard to get back out on the pitch as much as possible and I want to stay there.\u201d<\/p>\n