Video: England Women's captain Casey Stoney tips Tetney's Emily Roberts for success

ENGLAND Women’s captain Casey Stoney has tipped Tetney’s Emily Roberts to be a Three Lions star of the future.

Stoney, who skippered the Team GB Women’s football team at London 2012, plays alongside 18-year-old Roberts for Lincoln Ladies in the Women’s Super League.

And Stoney has been so impressed with what she has seen that she’s backed the youngster to follow in her footsteps and have a big impact in the women’s game.

Roberts – a midfielder who first started playing at the age of seven – has recently been training with England Women’s Under-19’s squad having received her first call-up to the national side before Christmas.

And speaking to the Telegraph, Stoney said that Roberts has the potential to go ‘a long way in the game’.

“Emily came into the Lincoln first team last year having come back from a major knee injury, so I’ve watched her return from that and thrive,” she said.

“She just keeps getting better and better to be honest.

“She’s already been involved with England at Under-19 level, so she’s making really good progress.

“She’s a dribbler who likes to take people on and make things happen.

“Technically, she’s very, very good – much better than me in fact!

“The biggest thing is that she’s got her head screwed on right and is a really nice girl as well, so she’s definitely got a bright future ahead of her.

“If Emily really wants to achieve and continues to put the effort in she can go as far as she wants in the game.”

Stoney, who has been capped more than 100 times for the Women’s national side, moved to Lincoln in 2010.

Alongside Roberts, the 30-year-old competes in the rapidly-growing Women’s Super League, which features eight of the best top sides from across the country.

And Stoney said she hopes Roberts can play ‘a big part’ in Lincoln’s campaign, adding that the League would give her a solid grounding for a bright international career in the future.

“The Super League is fantastic; it’s just growing and growing every year,” she added. “It’s the strongest league I’ve ever been involved with in the 15 years that I’ve been playing.

“You’re always being tested and that’s a good environment to be in – it will definitely help Emily’s development.

“I’m hoping she’s going to be a big part of our Super League side and hopefully she’ll get more of a taste of the league because she’s certainly a bright talent.

“I think the potential is there for her to follow in my footsteps and play for the full England side.

“She’s certainly got the ability and now it’s about her putting in the hard work and approaching it in the right way, which she does.

“And then it’s a case of taking that opportunity when it comes along.

“It’s all about chances in football and I really hope she gets that chance because she really does deserve it.”

Stoney was speaking at a visit to Birkbeck College in North Somercotes where she was coaching children as an ambassador for Sky’s Living for Sport initiative.

She added: “I did an initial visit to the school before Christmas and met the students.

“It’s my job to be their mentor and help raise the level of PE within the school.

“The students that I have been working with will be taking what I’ve done with them and replicating it to encourage more local students locally to engage in PE.”