Carly Telford's World Cup hopes hinge on Notts County success

Carly Telford started her career with Sunderland, who won the WSL 2 title in 2014

England and Notts County Ladies goalkeeper Carly Telford refuses to let her World Cup ambitions distract her from the Women's Super League season.

The 27-year-old was one of five Lady Magpies that helped England win the Cyprus Cup earlier this month.

"It will be a huge season with the World Cup a big carrot at the end of the stick," Telford told BBC Sport.

"But we have to focus on the league. If I don't perform, I'm not going to the World Cup and that is the bottom line."

The former Sunderland, Leeds, Chelsea and Perth Glory keeper added: "As long as I'm playing well, I've got no doubt that I will give myself the best shot for the World Cup in the summer."

In their first season since rebranding and moving to Meadow Lane from Lincoln, Notts finished third from bottom in England's top flight and reached the semi-finals of both the FA Women's Cup and Continental Cup.

While they were only eight points adrift of WSL 1 champions Liverpool, Telford said the side is intent on challenging more seriously for silverware in 2015.

"We have a point to prove," she said. "We finished last year strongly, but had a dip in the middle having started well. We want consistency this year. With consistency comes places for England and that is what I really want to get into."

Notts begin their season on Sunday with a home fifth-round FA Cup tie against lower-league side Tottenham, before difficult early WSL fixtures against last season's runners-up Chelsea and then Arsenal.

"It is a big opening game for us - we have to really stamp our authority on the cup and the league," Telford said.

"We know how tough it will be so we have to prepare like it is as if it were Chelsea or Arsenal."