‘Sky is the limit for Beth’ – England icon Ellen White hails Mead after Lioness wins BBC Women’s Footballer gong

ELLEN WHITE is backing Beth Mead to rack up more goals after the Arsenal forward was voted the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year.

The England star’s prize win was announced two days after Ella Toone won the WSL Women’s Player of the Year gong at the North West Football Awards.

Mead’s award comes four months on from the forward helping the Lionesses to European Championship triumph at Wembley.

The WSL star, 27, who has notched up 29 goals in 49 England appearances, finished as the tournament’s top scorer netting six times across six games.

And the contest’s Golden Boot winner also finished second behind Alexia Putellas, 28, at this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Lionesses record scorer White, 33, who retired after winning the Euros, told BBC Sport: “I think she can go on to score so many goals for England, the sky is the limit for her.

“What she’s achieved in her career so far, and her development, the way that she’s so focused on her performance, and what she’s doing at Arsenal, I think it’s incredible and it bodes well for the England team.”

Reflecting on her contribution to the Lionesses’ first major trophy win, Mead said: “Playing in your own country in those types of competitions, it’s what you dream of.

“To come away and win it was incredible and I think a feeling that will live with us for our lifetimes.”

Mead finished as the third-highest scorer in the Women’s Super League last season with 11 goals in 22 appearances for title-runners-up Arsenal.

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The forward’s impressive form has carried on into this season with the player bagging three goals and three assists in six WSL games for the league leaders.

This Friday could see Mead start for England when Sarina Wiegman’s side play the first of their last two international friendlies for this year.

The Lionesses will take on 2011 World Cup winners Japan, a team who they have beaten three times in five games dating back to July 2015.

They will then face Norway on Tuesday for the first time since they thrashed them 8-0 at the Amex during the Euros with Mead netting a hat-trick.  

Both games will kick off at 7pm at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia in Spain and can be watched live on ITV4.