This article was due for publication in the matchday programme for Everton's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Chelsea last month, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scotland international discusses her role in Everton’s unique captaincy structure, her mentality and the Blues’ exciting future at their new Walton Hall Park home…

Lucy, how would you assess Everton’s season?

I think if we looked at where we were last season and look at where we are now, we’ve come on leaps and bounds.

There’s definitely still work to be done to make bigger strides but we’re really comfortable we’ve got ourselves in a comfortable position in the league and have been in and around the top six all season.

We’ve also made great progress in the FA Cup and, as a whole, I think it’s been extremely positive.

You moved to Everton last summer from Bristol City. How have you settled in on Merseyside?

I love Liverpool as a city. The Club has made it [settling in] a seamless process and I was made to feel very welcome.

I knew the manager, Willie Kirk, and the assistant, Chris Roberts, before coming in so they helped me settle in even quicker.

It’s a great bunch of girls that we’ve got, so we all work hard together, and we all have a good laugh.

The squad is in really high spirits. Ever since I came to Everton last summer, there has been a good sense of togetherness within the camp and that bond has only got stronger.

How would you describe your mentality?

I just try to focus every day in training, to make sure I give my all and give my best, so I feel like I’m ready to do the same come matchday.

Some games go your way, some games don’t, but I try not get bogged down when things don’t go as well as you may have hoped.

I just focus on the things that I can control.

The manager announced a new captaincy structure at the beginning of the season – with you named as the on-field captain and Dan Turner remaining as Club captain. How has that dynamic worked?

It’s been really good. As soon as I came into the Club, Dan was very friendly and very approachable.

She’s been at the club for a long time and knows how everything works.

I see myself as a leader and having Dan as Club captain and working as part of a leadership group, we work together very well.

There is very strong competition for places in the team – how important is that?

I think it’s such a key aspect of the game.

When you play at this level, you need to have competition.

Nobody can afford to be complacent, and not be at their best, so we push each other every day in training to get the best out of each other.

Finally, how optimistic are you about Everton’s future?

I think we are definitely moving in the right direction.

We’ve got a quality squad, with a mix of youth and experience. I’m confident we’ll keep improving.

The move to Walton Hall Park was also a really important step.

We want to build a solid fanbase at the new ground and try to make it a fortress.