Chelsea forward Eniola Aluko has said she is open to playing for England again. This comes after the change of managers with Phil Neville taking a new managerial role.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I felt personally for me I didn’t want to necessarily be in contention for selection for personal reasons but now there has been a change of manager. I have spoken to Phil Neville, I had a great conversation with him.[/perfectpullquote]
“As I’ve said, he’s opened doors to a lot of players, new players, and I think for me you know if I don’t play for England again I am very proud of my England career,” Aluko said.
The Nigerian-born forward had been exiled from England duty since April 2016 by former coach Mark Sampson who was later found guilty of using discriminatory language towards her.
Neville says the door remains very much open for the 31-year-old to resume her international career.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“If she starts scoring goals and is playing well, then she is no different to anyone else.”[/perfectpullquote]
Aluko had decided to concentrate on her club- career ever since the ‘exile’ and has since scored 5 goals and assisted four times in 10 appearances for Chelsea.
“I think in life sometimes you just have to be content and you have got to say ‘right I am really proud of my career both on and off the pitch’. I’ve had a different role at Chelsea, I’ve been a squad player and I think for me if I was ever to be considered for England again, I’d want to be playing more regularly and scoring goals.
“That’s the only basis I’d want to be picked on anyway, so I want to try and play more regularly, and when I have played this season I think I have performed well. If in the future I get picked for England again then great, but if not, I am delighted with my career,” Aluko added.
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