Jordan Nobbs: From Injury to England’s World Cup Squad
Jordan Nobbs has had a career full of injuries, but all of the disappointment was forgotten when she was called up to England’s Women’s World Cup squad. The 30-year-old midfielder has earned 71 caps since 2013, but injuries have kept her out of the 2019 World Cup, Euro 2022, and the Olympic Games in 2021 with Great Britain. Despite having two players with more caps than her, Nobbs feels like a fresh addition to the team and is thrilled to finally get her chance at a major tournament after a six-year wait.
“I’m still waking up now with the butterfly feeling,” said Nobbs. “Everyone dreams of playing in major tournaments. Everyone knows the journey I’ve been on so to be part of this one and be part of such a talented squad is an unbelievable feeling. My phone obviously blew up after the call up. The closest people to you know the journey and they see the everyday things.”
Taking a Risk for Regular Game Time
In January, Nobbs made a bold decision to leave Arsenal after 12 years and join Aston Villa for regular game time. It paid off as she proved her worth to manager Sarina Wiegman, earning a recall to the England squad.
“I knew with regular game time I could get back to my best,” said Nobbs. “I had a manager like Carla [Ward] who gave me licence to play and enjoy my football again. It was a risk to a certain extent but with the limited game-time I was getting [at Arsenal], I had nothing to lose as well. There were a lot of tears and it was difficult to leave a club that I loved and owe a lot to. But when it comes to wanting to drive towards another major tournament I had to do everything possible.”
An Inspiration for Injured Lionesses
Nobbs’ impressive comeback from injury can be an inspiration to some of the Lionesses’ biggest stars, who will miss the tournament. Captain Leah Williamson and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead are both out with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the same issue which Nobbs suffered before the 2019 World Cup.
“It’s like learning to walk again when you suffer that kind of injury,” said Nobbs. “I was sat in front of the TV with ice on my leg. You’re not really doing much. You go into a place where you self-sabotage, sit and mope around for a bit. Once you’re up again, your goal is to get back on that pitch. If I look back and think about what I’ve been through, I’m still here fighting. You can come through a lot in the game.”
Conclusion
Jordan Nobbs has endured a long and difficult journey in her career, but she has persevered and is now getting her chance to shine at the Women’s World Cup. Her story is an inspiration to all athletes who have suffered injuries and are trying to make their way back into the game. Nobbs’ determination and hard work have paid off and she is now ready to take on the world with England’s Women’s World Cup squad.