Manchester City star reveals six-word career-changing tip given by captain in the middle of a game

Hemp was a part of the 23-strong squad selected by England manager Sarina Wiegman to represent her country at the 2022 European Championships this summer.

The Norfolk-born forward was one of the eleven players who lined up to face Austria in the tournament opener at Old Trafford before keeping her place for every match of the tournament as Wiegman opted not to change the starting team right up to the historic final.

After German midfielder Lina Magull’s late equaliser cancelled Ella Toone’s opener at Wembley, it was Hemp’s corner that Chloe Kelly poked home in extra time to seal a momentous tournament win for England.

Still just 22 years old, Hemp has become a mainstay of Wiegman’s Lionesses and, since coming down from the highs of Euro 2022, has started every Women’s Super League game for Manchester City so far this season.

As part of Football Focus coverage ahead of City’s big league match away at title holders Chelsea on Sunday, the BBC asked a rising young star which piece of advice was the best she’d received in her career.

Hemp revealed that it had been dispensed by Lioness captain Leah Williamson.

“Leah came up to me during the middle of the game and was like ‘play with this [heart] instead of this [head]’,” Hemp said.

“I feel like sometimes I overthink situations way too much and when I started playing with this [heart], I felt I was playing a lot better.”

A creative player characterised by daring dribbles and imaginative passing, Williamson’s words have helped Hemp to play with freedom.