Beth Mead says being dropped was motivation for England goal glut

Beth Mead says her third England hat-trick in six months during 2023 World Cup qualifying after being dropped from the national team and Team GB ahead of the Olympics shows her confidence has been restored after she “channelled my disappointment in the correct way”.

After England’s 10-0 defeat of North Macedonia in Skopje on Friday, she said: “I never thought I would have scored a hat-trick in all these qualifiers. We can let these things break us or we can use them as motivation, and I think it motivated me this season to do better on and off the pitch. I can control what I’m doing and enjoy my football. Hopefully that’s showing on the pitch right now, I’m confident and that’s really showing.”

Mead conceded that not flying to Tokyo was a blow but she is using that setback to help recover her best form in an England shirt.

“I think I’m in between,” she said. “I’m over it, but I can also still try and use it in the right way to motivate me. There were a lot of question marks over that decision, but I have to accept that, swallow it. Some people can let it affect them but I’ve used it in the right way and I’m getting the rewards of it.”

Part of that uplift has been because the new manager, Sarina Wiegman, has “settled” her this season. “I’ve come into this season and played with confidence, not overthought my game too much,” said Mead. “I know I have the capabilities to be a good player and do good things on the pitch. I guess last season I maybe got into my head a bit too much and I think Sarina has settled me, given me confidence, starts in some games, and I’ve really relished playing under her.”

Mead has further benefited from Lauren Hemp’s blistering work on the opposite flank, which was evident against North Macedonia