Katie McCabe: 'It's important to have male allies' - Arsenal star on support from former players

Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool have all been on the end of one of Arsenal star Katie McCabe's long-range screamers from her deadly left foot this season.

Those stunning goals from the Republic of Ireland captain, 26, along with her overall performances, have won her plaudits across the game, including from Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

The versatile winger tells BBC Sport how important it is to have male allies within football — and how they have helped shape her career.

Earlier this season, Wright — a regular watcher of Arsenal women at their stadium — described McCabe as his favourite Gunners player.

«Having a legend like Wrighty coming to games, coming to Boreham Wood and cheering us on — it's really important to have allies like that within the game,» she says.

«Obviously it's fantastic what Wrighty does for women's football off the pitch.»

As well as offering his support to her team, Wright has also worked as a TV pundit for England women's matches, and used his social media to raise awareness of the women's game.

She adds: «It's pretty cool when he says I'm his favourite player. It's great for the game and it gives us all a lift.»

It was her brother Gary McCabe — a former Shamrock Rovers midfielder — who first gave her the football bug when she was growing up in Ireland.

«He pushed me to join a boys' team when I was eight or nine,» she says. «He was like 'come on, you're going', he came down with me to my first session.

»He's been there (for me) ever since. He still is to this day, he's always watching the games.

«The level he played at over in Ireland was great, and I used to go every Friday night to see him play for Shamrock Rovers. I really looked up to him — I still do.»

He's also her toughest critic. Having scored a