Martha Thomas filling the boots of Tottenham’s Lioness after Manchester United transfer

Tottenham striker Martha Thomas has a tough act to follow.

After Spurs captain and Lioness Bethany England was ruled out of the first part of the WSL season following a hip operation, Thomas is expected to step up and become the club’s new source of goals.

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Thomas scored on her club debut and was unlucky not to get a brace[/caption]

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Beth England also has 11 goals for the Lionesses[/caption]

Former Chelsea striker England scored 12 goals in as many games in her first spell for Spurs – no small feat for Thomas to live up to.

But the 27-year-old has started the season well, proving herself more than up to the task.

Scottish international Thomas made the move from Manchester United over summer having helped the club to their highest ever WSL finish last season.

She currently has three goals in her first three appearances in all competitions for Spurs – so far, she and England are on par.

What a wonderful selection dilemma that will be for manager Robert Vilahamn when England returns to fitness.

Speaking to Tottenham before the WSL began, Thomas expressed her high hopes for revolutionising the club.

She said: “I want to help the team to achieve, to win more games than they’ve ever won (in the WSL) before, to finish as high as we ever have. I’m also really excited to meet all the fans.”

And Thomas knows exactly what she can bring to a side where she will have the opportunity – at least for the foreseeable future – to start most games.

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She said: “I would say I’m exciting as a player, I like to get on the end of things and I never give up, if we’ve lost the ball, I like to win it back straight away and create opportunities for myself or for other players.

“I’m hoping to play a big part, get on the pitch a lot, have a lot of minutes, make an impact positively in attacking ways, scoring goals, getting assists, winning games…  that’s ultimately what we all want.”

Thomas was born in England, but made the move to Florida when she was just six years old.

The Scot has always had football in her blood – her great uncle Jim Kirkland played for Aberdeen in what was the Scottish top league at the time.

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Thomas is already looking like an important player for Tottenham and could provide Vilahamn a headache when England returns[/caption]

Thomas grew up playing for local American club Weston FC, before playing in college for North Carolina University’s Charlotte 49ers where she was named as the side’s MVP in all four of her seasons.

It was in France that she began her professional career, signing for Le Havre AC in 2018.

But she quickly made the move back to England and to the WSL when she signed for West Ham – and scored on her debut.

After two years with the Hammers she joined a Manchester United side who were on the rebuild in 2021, and made 38 appearances for the club before her departure last summer.

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Scotland are on the rise in the World rankings after a run of recent good form[/caption]

Since 2020, Thomas has also been an integral part of the Scottish Women’s national side.

Despite being eligible for both the England and Scottish national teams – and having represented the USA at youth level – Thomas now has 11 goals in 27 appearances for Scotland.

She was a key part of the team who almost dismantled England’s Lionesses in their opening Women’s Nations League fixture in September – and will hope to do so again in the return leg in Scotland.

Scotland host England at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday 5 December in what will be the final Women’s Nations League group match.