TALENTED young footballer Emily Syme says it is “definitely her goal” to represent the England senior side, after meeting up with the national Under-18 squad at the end of last month.

The training camp at St George’s Park on November 20-24 involved 25 players and focused on tactics, particularly organised pressing, and pitted them against a boys’ side.

She’s no stranger to the England set-up, mind you, having played for them at the Uefa Women’s European Under-17 Championship in Lithuania last year.

She said: “It’s really incredible [playing for England], and I take great pride when I put on the shirt.”

Syme is a student at Richard Huish College and plays for Bishops Lydeard Ladies, where she has been under the watchful eye of coach Julie Bowker.

Bowker said: “She came to us as a holding midfielder, but the England coaches had looked to push her further forward.

“She plays the role of number 10 at Lydeard, but she’s very good at dropping in defensively and works hard going back.

“Technically she’s the best I’ve seen, but she also has the willingness to run the extra mile, she’s very unselfish and she’s always looking to bring her team-mates in.

“She’s so driven and exciting to watch; she has a change of pace that can take her from first to fifth.”

In terms of how Syme has developed at Huish and Lydeard, Bowker said: “She really was the complete package already, but she’s become so socially well-rounded, as you do in a group of ladies aged 16 to 36.

“The physical side of it was a learning curve for her, as she was thrust into senior ladies football and has been getting to grips with it.”

Syme added: “Training with the boys’ squad at Huish has helped me with the tempo and physicality of the game, as has playing with a wide range of players at Lydeard.”

She also gave credit to Somerset sports charity TS5C, which recently awarded Syme a grant which she said has helped her greatly with expenses.

And for the future?

Bowker said: “The only thing stopping her [playing for England seniors] is that she’s super bright, so puts her studies first and is focused on that.

“But I think we will see her in an England shirt on the TV.”

Syme added: “I want to keep my education at a high level, as there’s not as much money in women’s football, so I need the academic back-up.

“But it’s definitely my goal to play for England seniors – it always has been.”