Northern Ireland boss' trust allowing me to thrive, says proud defender

Belfast Telegraph

2 days ago

Ellie Mason is putting the recent advancement in her international career down to a strong comeback from injury that ended her 2023/24 season in mid-March and a connection with Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby.
International football has been something of a slow burner for London-born Mason, who qualifies to pull on the green shirt thanks to her late Ballymena-born grandfather. Until now.
The 29-year-old is about to double her cap total in the space of five months, and much of that is on the back of a second-half performance against Friday's Nations League opponents Poland in February having started each of the three games since in which Northern Ireland are unbeaten.
'Last season, I had an injury that set me back a bit, but after getting over that, I've come back into the squad and it's taken a bit of time,' said Mason.
'I trust all the girls, I trust Tanya, so it's a situation where I've got to gain the manager's respect, and she trusted me in the moment to come on against Poland.
'I played pretty well and, luckily enough, I've been able to start every game and play.
'It's been tough but, hopefully, moving forward now, it's all good.
'It is such a good feeling. Playing is such an honour. It is just a great feeling.'
Another factor in Mason's stellar progress is being settled into a position.
Although she impressed in a forward role while playing her club football at Lewes, that move didn't help her international career. She was used in attack in a friendly against Wales in April 2023 but was starved of possession and couldn't get into the game.
Reverting back to her natural position in defence as Birmingham City came within a whisker of promotion to the WSL has been transformational.
'When I was at Lewes, my manager trusted me, he put me up top and I was scoring goals, so why would you change it? You wouldn't,' she said.
'Since Tanya has come in, she knows where I'm good, where I play best and that's either at left-back or left centre-back.
'I have regular chats with Tanya, she knows what I can do, I trust her. We have that good communication of where she wants me to play, and I'll always give my all wherever I play.'
Now Poland are on Northern Ireland's schedule again, and with the group reaching its climax, the incentive is clear.
A win for Oxtoby's team and promotion to League A becomes a possibility, and while the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk in February didn't reflect the balance of the game lingers on, there is little need for further motivation.
'We know what they're about, we know they are a good team,' said Mason.
'They've got some good individuals, but we look back at the last game against them and we know where we can be better.
'We gave them far too much respect. Yes, they were a good team but, then again, we're a good team as well.'