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“Her celebration was worthy of a Champions League triumph,” remarked England boss Sarina Wiegman with a smile.

For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was comparable.

Wiegman was describing the moment the Aston Villa midfielder dashed into the corner after slotting her first Lionesses goal – six minutes into a win over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“I think the pitch needs some attention after that!” she joked, poking fun at Kendall’s immaculate knee slide.

As the 21-year-old stood up, puffing out her cheeks and surrounded by her team-mates, a beaming smile appeared on her face.

A Fairytale Homecoming

Having been “a staple” of Southampton for a decade, where she progressed from the youth ranks to play over a century of games, her summer switch to Villa was a major move.

Consequently, netting at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an incredible experience.

“To do it here, where I was raised, was an immensely special moment. This place made me into the player I am,” Kendall remarked.

“It seemed destined to happen. It was so special. I got overwhelmed with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

While Southampton was instrumental in her development, a life-altering choice at 15 was vital for her prospects.

A skilled cricketer as well, with a father who played county cricket for Hampshire, she was forced to decide between the two pursuits as her football career took off. Football was the choice.

“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall commented in a previous media conference.

“Growing up, I had a passion for cricket. The decision was genuinely tough. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I realised I enjoy football a bit more.”

A Chelsea supporter, her childhood hero was the prolific England midfielder Frank Lampard, and Kendall’s early career is following that goalscoring trend.

Juggling life at Southampton with a psychology degree at university, it was clear early on that Kendall had the determination and commitment to become a star.

The club did their utmost to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa moved decisively to bring her to the top flight.

Her rapid progress has seen her become a WSL regular and an England international in a short space of time.

“She shows consistency and that's not easy when you just come into a new environment and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” said Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

Her performance was notable; she struck the woodwork and was instrumental in another chance, preceding Russo’s spot-kick.

Exiting the pitch to acclaim, the announcer highlighted her deep connection to the club and city.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she noted, “The trust and regular playing time I received from 16 made all the difference.

“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.

“I understood the need to justify my selection at international level, where the tempo is higher, akin to moving up a league.”

‘Technically and Tactically, She Is a Very Strong Midfielder’

Kendall has made an immediate impression at international level, with observers stating she has just “understands the game” as a midfielder and looks like a “natural”.

The England manager aims to safeguard her exposure, citing the roles of both media and club, but is reassured by the player’s modest nature.

Shortly after her maiden call-up, she spoke to reporters, expressing a desire to contribute while understanding the importance of the collective.

According to Russo, Kendall’s assimilation was so smooth it seemed she’d was a veteran presence.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to