Chloe Kelly: How England’s Euros hero found herself back on the Arsenal bench and down the Lionesses pecking order
Fortunately, that period of managing an injury seems to be behind Kelly now. Asked about the winger when she was called up by England for this ongoing camp, Slegers clarified the situation with regards to her fitness. “She missed the West Ham game and a couple of training sessions but since then she’s been building back, and some things take a little bit longer than others, but she’s fully fit,” she explained.
That was underlined by Slegers’ team selection just before the international break, as she handed Kelly just her third start of the season against Real Madrid. The winger justified her inclusion in the XI, too. After having a significant impact in the clash with Las Blancas in last year’s Champions League quarter-final, playing a key role in the Gunners’ historic comeback win, Kelly was effective again in this rematch, delivering that great cross for Russo to head home and get the European champions back into things.
It was the highlight of a performance in which Kelly, free of that strapping on her knee, generally looked back to full fitness and sharpness, too, standing out as one of Arsenal’s best players on the night.
