AMAZING MACE. Young Lioness and Everton star Ruby Mace speaks

Without doubt, one of the brightest stars for the Young Lionesses and Everton this season has been Ruby Mace. Whatever the task thrown at her, she rises to the challenge.

She spoke to Helen M Jerome straight after Everton’s tight match v Arsenal at the Emirates – on thriving at centre back, being a leader, marking Alessia Russo, and looking forward to the World Sevens.

You’ve had a really good season and played very different positions, haven’t you?

So can you tell me how you’ve settled at Everton and where you see yourself playing long term?

Yeah, I think with Everton, I started off in the midfield and unfortunately we had injuries, so I’ve had to move into the backline.

And I’ve always said that if I can fit in and help my team become better, then I want to just give my all to the team no matter what position I play in.

I mean, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m happy right now in a position that I’m playing.

It feels like you’re thriving. I presume centre back isn’t what you played before in your youth?

Yeah, I actually used to play centre back a lot.

So for me going into the midfield is probably something a little bit different.

Yeah, I always got told that people see me as a midfielder, but I have been a centre back for quite a long time.

How do you see the whole setup going into the next season with Everton?

I mean, we’ve still got to finish off this season first, but hopefully the future brings good things, and we can continue to fight our way up the table.

I saw you at the end of the match, meeting up with people like Michelle Agyemang (above, centre), etc.

That must be great when you see your England teammates, because the youth for England is so strong at the moment.

Yeah, I mean I grew up with these girls, obviously I come from playing at Arsenal.

So I know a lot of them and to see my friends doing good and to be around them just means everything.

Do you like being a leader as you often were on the pitch today, can you see yourself ending up being a captain maybe?

I mean it’s not something that I think about too much.

I think I just always go on the pitch and give my all and I want to lead by example with the performances that I put in.

So not necessarily the captain that you get written on paper, but I want to just be able to guide my team and help my team on and off the pitch as much as I can.

I watched you a lot, in the first half particularly, and you were closely marking Alessia Russo (above), and I wonder what that’s like, because she does suddenly just go doesn’t she?

Yeah she’s one of the best strikers in the world and to come up against her I learned so much.

And to try and keep her out the game was my aim and to try and not let her turn and get an easy shot on goal.

I wanted to make it as difficult as possible, but she’s by far one of the best strikers I’ve ever come up against.

Yeah, she really challenged me today.

She didn’t get much past you, either, did she? I don’t know if she had many shots. Maybe one.

Yeah, I mean, thank God, because I think if she did, it would have been a different game.

But yeah, no, I’m happy that… I could kind of play my role in this part because going into the game that was definitely one of my goals to try and keep her out of the game as much as I could.