Teen sensation Worsey ready to help Forest chop down Everton

Teenage sensation Louanne Worsey is ready to inspire Nottingham Forest to an FA Cup shock over Women's Super League side Everton on Sunday. 

Worsey, 18, has impressed during a season-long loan from Birmingham, scoring 11 league goals and firing her team up to second in the Women's National League North.

But it is her six FA Cup goals — including two in the last round against Plymouth — that have caught the eye and put her in contention to win the Mitre Golden Ball as the competition's top scorer.

Her eyes are set firmly on a career at the top of the game and the clash with the Toffees is one she is embracing.

Worsey told LiveScore: "All the girls are buzzing. We're obviously high on confidence and have loads of momentum.

"As a tier-three side, we have the chance as a team and me as an individual to shine. We want to prove a point as the underdogs.

"We know we're going to have to work on out-of-possession stuff but the team are confident that when we do see the ball we can go and finish our chances. We go into the game aiming to win.

"The FA Cup is a competition everybody wants to be involved in. To be in contention for the Golden Ball among so many other great players I've grown up watching, I just feel really grateful."

Russo inspiration

Worsey has been prolific in front of goal but she is keen to emphasise there is variety to her game.

She was called up to the England Under-18s squad in 2022 and models her style on a well-established Lioness.

The striker said: "I want to play at the highest level I can, whether that's in the Championship, WSL or for England.

"Alessia Russo is an inspiration with her ball-striking ability and how much she has to her game.

"She can do much more than just finishing. I look up to her and aspire to be that type of player.

"There's loads of pressure on forwards to be more versatile. I like to think I've got that and I bring more to the team than just goalscoring."

Promotion priority

Amid the FA Cup hype, Worsey insists her priority is to round off a successful loan spell by firing Forest to promotion.

Even toppling league leaders Newcastle would not be enough to secure a spot in the Championship, with the winners of the North and South divisions facing each other in a play-off to decide who goes up.

And after Forest lost that showdown last term, Worsey is desperate to help them go one better this time around.

She said: "Coming to Forest has been the best decision of my career.

"All players need to play and need confidence and me coming here has brought that out of me.

"I'm really grateful to the club and now we need to go and win this league.

"Newcastle can definitely drop points and we're treading on their heels.

"Hopefully we can put things right by getting the promotion the club should have had last season."

First, though, is the chance to make history on Sunday.