Leah Galton on the prospect of joining England's Lionesses in future

Leah Galton turned England down three years ago and looks unlikely to change her mind now… the Manchester United star is the best player not involved with the Lionesses but ‘balance’ in life is taking priority

• Leah Galton is playing a starring role as Manchester United eye the WSL title
• She turned England down three years ago but a call-up remains a possibility 
• Galton remains coy as to whether she would get involved as she seeks ‘balance’ 

It has been over three years since Leah Galton rejected an England call-up. The Manchester United forward was wanted by Phil Neville but said she was not in the right place to be considered for international football.

Many did not understand and some still don’t. 

Galton took time out from football in 2018 and explained that she had to ‘fall back in love’ with the game when she joined United.

She was not ready to add international football to the mix. But what about now? With eight goals and three assists, Galton is the best player not part of the Lionesses set-up. A future call-up does not appear to be out of the question.

‘To be honest right now I think it’s hard because I really am getting my balance right,’ Galton says.

Leah Galton’s life ‘balance’ is helping her perform at her best for Manchester United

The Man United ace is the most talented player not involved with England’s Lionesses

‘I’m not going away on camp so I’m getting time off and I’m getting time to be a normal person in that sense and have time with my family and go on little overnight stays with my little family so I think that’s where I’m getting the balance right.

‘It kind of worries me a little bit that if I change that, I wouldn’t get that balance right. I think right now, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.

‘Obviously it’s always nice to hear that England are asking where your head is at and stuff which is so nice because you see the talent of the players and the girls there to be compared to that. I think right now I’m happy doing what I’m doing.’

It was former United boss Casey Stoney who was on-hand to explain Galton’s decision back in 2019. Stoney did an excellent job of protecting her player, who faced questions and criticism over why she did not want to be called up for her country.

‘Even to this day it’s sometimes a bit hard,’ Galton says. ‘You shouldn’t be looking at stuff on social media but it’s hard not to and I think if you can’t understand it, then that’s on them.

‘I just want people to be able to see it from my view and I’ll happily talk about it because it doesn’t bother me. 

‘I know some people still think “what’s she doing, why is she turning down this?”

‘Until they’re in this situation and they’re playing every day and are in this line of work I don’t think they’d ever understand. I think for me it’s just focusing on what I think about it and keep playing well and keep performing for my club.’

While Galton may have faced criticism from others, she is a firm fan favourite at United.

Galton (right) is wary of disrupting her ‘balance’ despite England asking about her thinking

‘They’re amazing,’ Galton says of United’s supporters. 

‘At away games I think it is unbelievable because they’ll follow us up and down the country and they’ll be there in numbers. 

‘There’s never only a handful of fans, there’s always multiple. You can hear them where you are. 

‘When we played Chelsea away, all I could hear was the United fans which was great and I think it really helps you in the games because you want to get a result for them and you want to perform well. All I can say is I hope they keep coming to watch us.’

Galton has been a major part of United’s title challenge this season and the club are also in the semi-final of the FA Cup. The forward thinks there is more belief in the squad than previous campaigns that they can go on to win a first trophy in five years.

‘I think there’s no doubt in anyone’s minds, that’s the change. 

‘Even if we did drop points or we conceded or whatever it was, I think we still have that belief that we’re gonna bring the game back or “it’s alright if they’ve scored one because we’re gonna score three”.

‘I love proving people wrong, it’s the best feeling ever. It’s also nice in a way because yes there is pressure but we haven’t done it before so there’s not pressure to regain the title or do the same thing.

Galton scored a brace at the weekend as United disposed of relegation-threatened Brighton

‘Whatever we do, we’re doing well and we’re doing it as a squad and new as a squad so it’s not like you’re feeling all that pressure like we’ve done it before, we have to do it again. It’s more like we’re gonna do this and we’re gonna do it well and try our best.’

Galton has just got a tattoo to mark her 100th appearance for United and hopes to be back at the same parlour in Harrogate should United end the season with a trophy.

‘I haven’t really won anything major in my career so obviously if we go to Wembley, which hopefully we will, I fully believe that we will, we’ll see what happens there.

‘Then there’s obviously the league. I think we just need to wait until the end of the season and hopefully I’ll be back here!’

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