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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tom Garry

Williamson hopes Russo can carry Arsenal swagger into Lionesses games

Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson smile during an England training session.
Alessia Russo (left) and Leah Williamson of England. ‘We know what a talent she is,’ Arsenal’s Williamson said of her club colleague. Photograph: Harriet Lander/The FA/Getty Images

Leah Williamson has praised the form of Alessia Russo before England’s No 9 spearheads the Lionesses’ attack in their Women’s Nations League double-header against Belgium, starting in Bristol on Friday.

Arsenal’s Russo has scored 14 goals in her past 21 games for club and country, including two in last week’s Champions League second-leg comeback win over Real Madrid. Her clubmate, the England captain Williamson, praised Russo’s character, saying at St George’s Park on Thursday: “Everyone will always say how nice a person Alessia is and everyone wants to see her do well for that reason. But to be a No 9 you do have to have that sort of – not arrogance – but confidence about you.

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