World Cup fever is in the air and is bubbling in us all but Manchester United maestro Leah Galton remains immune and still refuses to be selected for England duty.
The 28-year-old simply prefers the time off during the international break to stay focused, sharp and happy and thus able to deliver irreplaceable performances for United week-in-week-out.
The midfielder was invited to an international training camp under Mark Sampson back in 2018, however, withdrew from injury and has seemingly asked not to be in contention since.
Problem is, she’s near impossible to ignore with eight goals and three assists in the Women’s Super League so far this season, she is on par with club teammate Alessia Russo and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr on goals sitting as a three-way-joint-third top scorer behind City’s Bunny Shaw on 16 and Rachel Daly on 13.
While perhaps being further down the assists scale for the entire top flight, statistically, her goals plus assists tally puts Galton joint fifth on 11, on par with teammate and England star Ella Toone, alongside Aston Villa’s Kenza Dali (French international) and Kirsty Hanson (Scottish international).
Her performances are of top international quality, so it's not that she can’t do it, she’s simply finding the work-life balance we all search for, she told BBC Sport: “Right now it's hard. I'm really getting my balance right. I have time off and time to be a normal person in a sense. I can go away with my family.
"That's where I'm getting the balance right. It worries me a little bit that if I change that, I wouldn't have that balance.” Galton toyed with career burnout back in 2018 and resorted to taking a year out following a spell with Bayern Munich.
She continued: "It's always nice to hear England are asking where my head is at because you can see the talents of those players and to be compared to that is nice. But I'm so happy right now doing what I'm doing."
Fans on Twitter have voiced their opinions in somewhat support of Galton’s desires, Mandy Tweeted: “Massive shame, Leah Galton has a lot to offer the England team. I don't understand it as a footballer's career is so short and I wonder if there'll be regrets later down the line. But it's every person's right to make those choices so fair play to her."
Albert Tweeted: "Why would she waste her time and risk injury playing for England when she's not guaranteed a place in the England squad? Look at Katie Zelem and Beth England always put on the rollercoaster of emotions called today dropped tomorrow."
And it’s a fair point, if Galton were to offer her services to the international squad, where would she fit? Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly were influential players in the Euros and having stellar performances this season for Manchester City.
Kelly is top in the league stats for crosses (174) expected assists (6.8) shot creating actions (94) successful take-ons (24) progressive passes received (195).
While Hemp comes a close second for expected assists stats (5.1) but top of the class in crosses and passes into the penalty area (28 and 47 respectively) with a stat second in the league for key passes (45).
While Lauren James has made a name for herself of late for both club and country most recently named Arnold Clark Cup player of the tournament. with Katie Robinson also exhibiting flawless performances throughout February's tournament, so who would lose out to accommodate Galton?
Sarina Wiegman could opt to involve Galton in the number nine attacking role, competing with United teammate Alessia Russo or Aston Villa’s Daly who's a complete goal-machine this season with a tally of 13 from 17 top-flight games.
Ebony Salmon’s pace is unmatched, and with six years on Galton would be a more viable option for future-proofing the England squad. Salmon was left out of this international break, it doesn’t mean Wiegman isn’t interested in involving the Houston Dash striker.
Although a midfielder, a number 10 role doesn’t offer Galton the freedom to run full-pelt down the flank or capitalise on a loose ball in front of goal. Plus Club teammate Ella Toone, who has worked her way from sub to starting XI with Euro triumph, offers Galton a fantastic service forward for United, surely it would be more valuable to capitalise on the link over replacing it for just replacement's sake?
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