JORDAN NOBBS praised Steph Houghton’s leadership yesterday as England prepare for Saturday’s quarter final against Norway.

Houghton picked up a knee injury in the Cyprus Cup in March and returned just in time for the World Cup.

Nobbs stood in for the England captain and was handed the armbard in her absence but has found herself on the bench in Canada.

With manager Mark Sampson known for tinkering with the starting line-up, the 22-year-old could be called upon to partner Houghton on Saturday.

Nobbs is relishing the prospect of lining up alongside Houghton.

“We need Steph in the team and thank God she’s back but it’s been a great privilege to be named vice-captain and I’m very lucky I’ve had the chance to walk the team out,” she said.

“It’s been one of the best moments in my career.

“I’m very proud I’ve been given the vice-captaincy, to lead as a young player and learn as well from Steph.

“I’ve known Steph for a long time and she’s always shown as a player on and off the pitch that she’s very calm and relaxed, but she makes decisions and she just looks like a leader as well, everything about her.

“She’s professional and hopefully I can learn a lot from her.”

For the majority of the squad, Vancouver will be a long way from home for them but for Jodie Taylor it might as well be home.

The striker studied across the US border in Oregon and plays there for Portland Thorns in front of 15,000 fans.

The decision to move to the US for regular football was difficult but Sampson assured her that it didn’t matter where she played, as long the standard was high.

“To play professionally in the US has always been a dream of mine and it was great to get the opportunity in Washington DC but I always wanted to get back to the west coast,” said Merseysider Taylor, who teed up Lucy Bronze’s winner against Norway.

“I went to college in Oregon and I absolutely love Portland. I had a number of conversations with England manager Mark Sampson about whether it would harm my chances by playing abroad but he reassured me that as long as I’m playing at a good standard it wouldn’t matter where.

“That was really nice to hear, even though I asked him the same question about five times just to make sure.

“It’s somewhere I can see myself in the long-term.”

At 29, Taylor has spent the majority of her career hopping from one club to another.

After stints in England, Sweden and Australia, Taylor finally feels she has settled in the States and hopes to end her career with Portland.

“People will joke, but if you look at the amount of teams I’ve played for, I’ve never ended on bad terms anywhere. It’s not like I get kicked out of clubs and I’m a terrible person and it doesn’t work out,” she said.

“It’s been a journey to keep becoming the best player I can be and I finally feel I’m in a place where I’d see out my career at Portland if it was my choice.”