The Bristol City manager thinks her former England teammate is an “inspiration” and believes it is only right she is regarded as one of the game’s best players.

She told FourFourTwo magazine of Lucy: “A true great of women’s football, who has everything you need to become world-class – passing, crossing, a tireless engine and the ability to read the game expertly.

“She’s rightly regarded as one of the best in the world and has been for so long. An inspiration.”

Anita was also a big fan of the skills of fellow Lionesses Rachel Unitt – who had a “wand of a left foot” - and her close friend Fara Williams.

She said: “I played with [Rachel] for England and she had a wand of a left foot.

“She’d race up and down the wing to support attacks, and was also a really intelligent player who brought a calming energy in the dressing room.

“[Fara is] the most capped England player of all time and a good friend, who could open up a game with a single pass and score goals from distance.

“She was an extremely clever midfielder and took responsibility to solve problems during a match whenever we needed her to.”