Kelly Smith [feature]

Tony Leighton finds Kelly Smith rejuvenated and pushing for a return to the England side after an Achilles injury that kept her out from the World Cup onwards. The Boston Breakers striker, 33 at the end of October, says Germany was her last World Cup and that she will not be physically able to feature in four years’ time, but hopes hard work will earn her a place in the Great Britain squad at the 2012 Olympics. Her last kick of the tournament was a converted penalty in the shoot-out England lost to France. Smith admits she was low enough afterwards to consider retiring from international football, having missed the 2-2 draw in Serbia and the 4-0 win over Slovenia. She is confident the WPS will continue despite the collapse of its predecessor, and looks forward to another season in Boston.