Stanway's eager to step up for the Lionesses in the absence of best friend Walsh

Georgia Stanway could not have looked happier. She will be without her midfield partner and best friend Keira Walsh when England take on China on Tuesday. She may be without her for the rest of this World Cup.

The extent of the knee injury Walsh picked up against Denmark is still unknown, but the certainty is that she will not play on Tuesday.

That means a shift of position for Stanway, who will play in the No 6 role that Walsh has vacated. She will need more defensive discipline and the onus will be on her to be the link between defence and attack.

But Stanway, 24, is not phased. There was no sense of doom and gloom as she answered questions on Monday. She is ready to step up in Walsh’s absence and, in her own words, ‘give the beans’.

‘I woke up this morning feeling a lot more mature!’ a relaxed Stanway joked on Monday.

‘I’ve created a little bit of a leadership role with the way that I’m playing. I feel a lot of confidence in my own game and I’ve been consistent off the back of the Euros so I’m just trying to keep that momentum.

‘I feel I’ve proven my leadership in the way that I play and lead by example. I’m not afraid to communicate as well so I’ll try and do the two jobs.

‘When you go to a World Cup there’s absolutely everything to play for. You want to give it the beans and turn up. You want to put on your best performance. ‘

Stanway picked up a yellow card in England’s first game and another on Tuesday night would rule her out of the last 16 game. While the midfielder does have a reputation for bookings - with eight in 21 games for Bayern Munich last season. Stanway, though, played 65 minutes of the Euros final on a yellow card and knows she has to be careful in tonight’s game and any potential last 16 game.

‘Of course I’m conscious (of the booking). I managed 45 minutes in the first game and 90 minutes in the second game so I’m sure I can manage a lot more minutes without picking up a yellow card.

‘The other day against Denmark. My role was predominantly a defensive one. I have to make sure I’m covering the back four and I’m disciplined. I just need to stay on my feet and make sure there’s players in front of me.’

Stanway has known Walsh since she was a teenager after coming through the ranks at Blackburn before later playing together at Manchester City. The defensive midfield role is not completely new to Stanway but Walsh has offered some words of wisdom.

‘I think for me it’s just covering that discipline element into the game, knowing I don’t always have to be running to help with the attack,’ Stanway said of her positional change.

‘It’s just knowing I need to protect the back four too. That position comes naturally to me because I’ve played it a little bit at club. I’ve played alongside Keira [Walsh] who is the best teacher without knowing it. Going into tomorrow it’s about communicating in the middle of the pitch.

‘I speak to Keira 24/7. To be honest it’s about 10 minutes of football-related stuff and the rest is just rubbish. I’m sure she will be giving me some tips and I’m sure the message will be to perform in the game. She’s got trust in whoever is going to be on the pitch.’

England manager Sarina Wiegman would not comment further on whether Walsh may return later in the tournament, insisting that her team is strong enough to progress without her.

‘I think we have a strong enough team, I think every game we want to be at our best. We know she’s not available. We have a group of 23 so now we have a group of 22, we have our solutions and we’ll show that tomorrow.

‘We’re here to move on. It’s part of sport and it’s not nice but you have to move on and adapt to the new situation and find a way - bring 11 players on the pitch who we think can win the game. That’s what we’re doing all the time.’

Should England get the point they need to top their group they will avoid a last 16 clash with Australia and instead face Nigeria.

It looked as if the Lionesses were on a collision course with the Matildas but their 4-0 victory over Canada and Nigeria’s draw with the Republic of Ireland meant the co-hosts finished in first place.

Australia’s win came courtesy of a brace from Hayley Raso and further goals from Mary Fowler and Steph Catley. Sam Kerr was fit enough to be named on the bench after missing the first two group games, but was not risked.