The feeling I had at 14, getting selected for Everton's Under-15 side - that excitement, pride, all the emotions - it never goes away. It still happens when I'm waiting for the England squad announcement. I'll get sweaty palms, I'll sit and scroll through my inbox, refreshing it continuously making sure that the email comes through.

Nikita Parris

Categorized in : Feeling Waiting Pride Squad

If you don't have competition in a squad, you can have complacency - and, if you have complacency, you won't win.

Nikita Parris

win you squad competition

I have a niece now, and it makes me want to be better for her, just to show that there's a big wide world outside Toxteth, and you can imprint yourself in any one of those places as long as you do the hard work and have the desire.

Nikita Parris

me you hard-work work

I do a bit of boxing in the off-season to stay fit - it's a different kind of fitness.

Nikita Parris

stay boxing different fitness

As a young kid, you never really understand what it takes to be a footballer: what it's like after you've won or what the changing room is like after a loss, or, as an individual, have you played a good game? Have you played a bad game?

Nikita Parris

game good understand you

The Champions League is one trophy that I need to win.

Nikita Parris

trophy champions need win

I just want to be at the best place possible to ensure that I really kick on in my career, that I constantly have challenges, because in football, you don't have long. It's easy to become complacent when game time comes so easily, and you're doing so well.

Nikita Parris

best you time football

Everyone used to say I'm a rising star, and I've got raw talent, but I really wanted to be, honestly, the best.

Nikita Parris

everyone say best talent

I'm the one who is always bantering. Millie Bright and Rach Daly are pretty bad. Jill Scott is up there, too, but I'm probably the one who initiates it all, and people come back at me.

Nikita Parris

bad back me people

I'm always playing jokes, even on the manager - some, not many. I want to try and keep my place in the squad.

Nikita Parris

place try squad want

When we go out to train, we work hard, but when we're back in the hotel, you want to chill out. People want to switch off from football because you spend so much time doing it. For me, switching off means playing jokes.

Nikita Parris

me work time football

You have to sacrifice time with your family, your time as a teenager. You don't experience life like any other, outside of football. When you go to uni, you can't live the uni lifestyle. But I've never, ever thought about quitting football.

Nikita Parris

family time football life

I knew from a young age what I wanted to do, but that's not the case for everyone. Some go through different paths to reach their destination.

Nikita Parris

everyone go destination age

I go home every day, and my mum still lives in the same house. It's not one of the most affluent areas of Liverpool - some may say it's deprived - but we have an abundance of love and support.

Nikita Parris

day support home love

I was a natural talent, a raw talent. Then I came to Manchester City, and I learned philosophies.

Nikita Parris

then city talent natural

On an odd occasion, you'll still find me shouting at referees when I've become increasingly frustrated, but I've tried to control my temper.

Nikita Parris

control find me you

I've grown not just as a player but as a person. But my passion will always remain. It's there because I love football, and I love fighting for my club and my country.

Nikita Parris

passion fighting love football

Every time I step on the pitch, I think about winning and putting on a performance that ensures my team comes out on top.

Nikita Parris

step team winning time

Ever since I was kid, I dreamed of playing for England.

Nikita Parris

ever playing kid england

Every time I step onto the pitch for England, I feel great pride. I want to keep working hard to stay in the starting XI and push on to win trophies.

Nikita Parris

step great win time

Playing at the Women's World Cup is my long-term goal and, hopefully, I can contribute to winning a medal.

Nikita Parris

women i-can winning world