England Women interim coach Mo Marley willing to pick Eniola Aluko
Marley confirmed application for permanent England manager's job
Sunday 22 October 2017 18:17, UK
England Women's interim coach Mo Marley says she is "100 per cent" willing to pick Eniola Aluko.
Marley is in temporary charge following Mark Sampson's sacking last month, and will lead the side in a friendly against France on Friday.
Aluko claimed her 102-cap England career effectively ended when she complained of racism and bullying by Sampson to the FA in 2016. On Wednesday, Sampson was found to have made "discriminatory remarks" to Aluko on the grounds of race.
Asked if she would consider Aluko for England selection, Marley told Sky Sports News: "While I'm the manager, 100 per cent."
It's for me to find the players in form, playing well, and help us qualify for the World Cup.
Marley confirmed she has applied to replace Sampson as England manager on a permanent basis, and insists her selection policy will be solely based on football ability.
"I've only been in post 10 days, and in those 10 days we've had all the talent reporters out assessing the players available to be selected for England and that's not just one player in isolation, it's everybody," she said.
"It's for me to find the players in form, playing well, and help us qualify for the World Cup and go from number three in the world to number one."
Marley said the England camp received the FA statement in which the governing body "sincerely apologised" to Aluko and Drew Spence over Sampson's remarks shortly before leaving for their pre-match training camp in France on Wednesday.
The England coach insists she is not directly "emotionally attached" to the ongoing situation regarding Aluko, but admitted the players have "been finding it tough".
Marley intends to turn the players' attention back to football, though, and will use the coming weeks to assess her own suitability for the manager's position on a permanent basis.
"After this short term part I'll get a feel for if it works for me permanently," she said. "I do think my strength has been player development over the years, which is very different, so we'll see how it goes.
"I'm blessed, privileged, I've got an opportunity to get short-term practice at the role. At the end it's a question of am I the right candidate.
"It's not whether I want it or whether I would do it, it's important that England appoint the right manager to help the team be number one in the world."
