Beth England unknowingly put her career on the line by going on to play for the Lionesses at the World Cup. Photo: PA/Tim Goode
Beth England was desperate to prove herself at the World Championships last summer. She was replaced throughout the tournament by coach Sarina Wiegman, but every time she took to the field she put her career in serious jeopardy.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker dealt with what she thought was a minor hip problem during preparations for the showcase event of women's football in Australia. But it was only when she returned home – after the Lionesses' crushing 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final – that she was struck by the shock diagnosis.
“My femur wasn't in the socket, it was sitting to the side and sliding around so it wasn't locked in place,” England says, telling Telegraph Sport about her ordeal for the first time. “I had a lot of fluid accumulated there – the tendon was barely visible. The surgeon told me that if it had ruptured any more, it would have been the end of my career.”
In England there was a severe case of hip dysplasia, where the femoral socket does not completely cover the ball of the upper thigh bone. The damage was so severe that she suffered a torn labrum when the cartilage lining her hip joint began to wear away.
In Australia, where she appeared in five of the Lionesses' seven games and scored in the penalty shootout against Nigeria in a tense round of 16 match, she dealt with the problem by taking a daily cocktail of painkillers.
Beth England (second from right) celebrates the Lionesses' penalty shootout victory over Nigeria. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
Given that she still had full range of motion in her hip, she decided the scan wasn't that important, knowing full well that if anything was found, her World Cup dream would be over. Ignorance in the case of England was bliss.
“I can honestly say, hand on heart, it was some of the best football I ever played when I was in this camp,” England reflected. “I think Sarina would agree. I was fit, in good form, I had just played well for Spurs. At that time, I didn’t even think that it was something so serious. I was ready to get back and hit the ground running.”
A week after her diagnosis, England went under the knife to save her career, meaning she will miss the start of the new Women's Super League . season.
Passionate owner of two golden retrievers, Buddy and Dilly, England was distraught over not being able to walk her dogs. “I was the most irritable, moody little cow,” she says. “I had days when I was depressed. I cried for several days. I was upset, but the surgeon did a great job and the Spurs medical staff was with me the whole way.”
England is no stranger to adversity. Before she announced a £250,000 move from Chelsea to Spurs at the start of the year (a record between two English clubs in the Women's Super League), her club and country career had become a struggle for consistent minutes.< /p> 
England joined Spurs for a record £250,000 in January. Photo: Getty Images
She was eventually replaced at Chelsea by Australian forward Sam Kerr and Lauren James, a promising England striker. She became the Lionesses' main substitute during the Euros, where the elation of the team's euphoric celebrations at Wembley was matched by the emptiness she felt after not playing a single minute of the campaign.
“The Euros, except for my operation on the hip was one of the hardest parts of my career,” England says. “Everyone sees you winning, which is great, but it took me a long time inside to realize that I deserved a medal just like the other girls. In my head I see that I am helping the team when I am on the field. But I never did this, every day I helped beginners in training.
“It was actually my partner's father who sat me down and talked to me and said, 'Listen, there are only 23 people in the world who have this medal and you're one of them.' You can be so obsessed with playing time.” but there is a much bigger picture of why we won that tournament. He changed my point of view. Yes, the manager appointed me not because of reluctance or diligence, that’s how the cards turned out.”
The behind-the-scenes role inspired the England international, who went on to lead Spurs – scoring 13 goals in 14 games – and playing a key role in saving the club from relegation.
England tries to console Lucy Bronze after Spain win the final. Photo: PA/Zac Goodwin
Fitting easily into Spurs, she was given the title of Spurs captain by the club's new manager Robert Villahamn, despite an injury setback. “I had no idea this was happening,” she says. “One of the first things I said to him was, 'Are you sure?' I probably didn't believe it. But when you're offered this opportunity, you can't refuse.”
The role gave her a new purpose, even if it meant managing some of the logistics. “I made sure my schedule matched the team's schedule and that made it easier,” England says. “I could attend all the team meetings. It's not like I wasn't in the group.”
Having returned from her side's 4-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend, England's return is timely as Spurs host “Arsenal”. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Spurs, without a league win since October, have been riding a storm of late but England are optimistic. “This group is special,” she says. “I just hope the team has the faith and confidence that I know they have.”
For the Spurs talisman to lead his team into the north London derby after such an emotionally difficult period away from the pitch would be the greatest asset.
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