Grace Clinton: “We have only got stronger since then”
Sat 17 February 2024, 12:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Grace Clinton says she is enjoying her football at Hotspur Way and reflects on being named in the latest England squad for their matches against Austria and Italy.
Signed on loan from Manchester United in the summer, the 20-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season in the Barclays Women’s Super League so far, netting five goals in all competitions – four in the WSL – and registering two assists.
When asked about her campaign so far on this week’s Inside Spurs, the creative midfielder said: “We have been doing really well, the game against Liverpool we would have loved to won and we had opportunities where we could have put it to bed. But, since we have come back after Christmas, we have been flying and I have been enjoying my football.
“Having to play on the left at the start of the season was new to me but I just feel like the more games I have played, the more comfortable I am with the girls and the more confident I am to get on the ball.
“If you watch me, I am left-winger, but I sometimes end up on the right next to Celin [Bizet], so Robert [Vilahamn] really gives me that free role, which is nice to have.
“So, I’m very thankful to Robert and the girls to let me wander because we have to defend and we have to do other things to make sure we win our games, but they are able to trust me and find me in those areas.”
As a group, being sixth doesn’t sit right with us at the moment, we feel like we deserve more.
We return to WSL action on Sunday afternoon (tickets available on the day at Brisbane Road) as we face Carla Ward’s Aston Villa side in our final game ahead of the international break, and Grace is keen to return to winning ways in the league and push further up the table.
Grace added: “It’s a massive game against Aston Villa and one we will definitely be looking to win, get more points and climb up the table.
“We played them earlier in the season and we were unbelievable, and we have only got stronger since then.
“We want to be close to the top as possible. As a group, being sixth doesn’t sit right with us at the moment, we feel like we deserve more.”
The 20-year-old will head to sunny Spain over the international break as she was named in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for their warm weather training camp and two fixtures against Austria and Italy.
This is her third call-up to the Lionesses’ squad – all of which have been playing for us - and Grace was full of her teammates and Robert’s contributions for helping her achieve that.
“The buzz hasn’t worn off yet, it’s still scary leading up to it but it’s so rewarding to see you have been selected and I’m really thankful. It’s such an amazing squad to be a part of,” Grace said.
“If I hadn’t come to Spurs this season and been with such a great group of girls, I wouldn’t have been able to showcase what I could do, so without the girls and Robert, I wouldn’t have been there.”
