Birmingham City Ladies: Jo Potter 'deserves England recall'

Birmingham City Ladies boss David Parker has backed Jo Potter for a recall to the England set-up.

The 28-year-old, who scored a stunning winner in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Chelsea, has 13 caps but has not represented her country since 2007.

"She's one of the best central midfielders in the country," he told BBC WM. "Week in, week out, what she can do is unbelievable at times.

"She's got the lot - I'll never know why she's not in the England squad."

The result against Chelsea enabled Birmingham to remain unbeaten in the Women's Super League this season and they currently lie fourth in the table, just three points behind leaders Bristol Academy.

Parker believes his side's defensive qualities have been key to their good start to the season.

"We have to be disciplined, well organised, and hard to beat first. If we get that right, people won't beat us," he said.

"It shows you how hard we are to beat through our work ethic, pressing and organisation. From there, if we can win it by the odd goal, I will take 1-0 or 2-1 every week."

Potter, meanwhile, was delighted by the 35-yard drive that secured victory over Chelsea.

"It's something the players and management ask me to do on a regular basis now," she said.

"They want me to get forward and test the goalkeeper, and it came off.

"Carly [Telford] is a great goalkeeper and she's just come back from injury, so I thought I'd test her. Sometimes the go in and sometimes they don't but thankfully it went in."