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“Her celebration was worthy of a Champions League triumph,” noted England boss Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.

And for Lucia Kendall, it was a near-equivalent experience.

The England boss was commenting on the instant the Villa player celebrated wildly following her debut international strike – six minutes into a triumph over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“They are still doing some treatment on the grass!” she added, poking fun at Kendall’s perfect knee slide.

Getting up from her slide, Kendall took in the moment with cheeks puffed and a radiant grin.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Southampton was her home for ten years; she was a familiar face there after graduating from the academy and making 103 appearances prior to her summer transfer to Aston Villa.

Consequently, scoring at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an unbelievable moment.

“It was a truly special moment to achieve this here, in my hometown. This place made me into the player I am,” Kendall remarked.

“It appeared as though it was fate. It was so special. I got consumed by emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

It may have been Southampton who “developed” Kendall, but a crucial decision aged 15 proved crucial to her future.

The gifted youngster was also a accomplished cricketer – her dad Will played for Hampshire – but ultimately had to pick one of the sports just as she was breaking into Southampton's first-team squad. She chose football.

“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall said in a previous media conference.

“I adored cricket as a child. Making the choice was very hard. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I realised I enjoy football a bit more.”

Growing up admiring Chelsea and Frank Lampard’s goal-getting midfield exploits, Kendall is embarking on her own path with comparable attacking instincts.

Balancing her football at Southampton with university studies in psychology showcased the discipline and dedication needed to excel.

The club did their utmost to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa seized the opportunity to introduce her to the top flight.

In a matter of months, Kendall has quickly risen, securing a regular place in the WSL and a call-up to the national team.

“Maintaining her level immediately in a new league and club is difficult, yet she has done so,” admitted Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

Kendall certainly enjoyed herself at St Mary's, hitting the crossbar later in the first half and almost setting up Villa team-mate Missy Bo Kearns for a goal, before Alessia Russo added a second with an injury-time penalty.

Her substitution on the hour mark was met with a resounding reception from fans and an announcer proudly declaring her local roots.

Having scored 29 times for Southampton during her long tenure, she said, “My early exposure to senior football there from 16 provided a solid base.

“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.

“I knew that I had to go in [to England] and prove why I should be playing at this level. The speed of the game is quicker and it was like going up a division.”

‘Technically and Tactically, She Is a Very Strong Midfielder’

Kendall has made an immediate impression at international level, with pundits stating she has just “has the quality” as a midfielder and looks like a “born talent”.

Wiegman is eager to shield her, saying the media can play a role in that and so can Villa, but she has no concerns because of how “humble” Kendall conducts herself.

Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was addressing the media saying she was eager to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.

Teammate Alessia Russo remarked that Kendall settled as if she’d always been there.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to