FORMER England defender Anita Asante wants to see an increase in diverse role models for aspiring footballers in the women’s game, saying the “landscape has changed significantly” since she played for the Lionesses.

Asante made 71 appearances for England between 2004 and 2018, while she also represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, won the quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and went on to play for the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa before calling time on her career in 2022.

England’s historic success in winning Euro 2022 and reaching the 2023 World Cup final has seen an increase in the number of girls playing football, but the number of black players in the national squad is lower than in previous years.