This follows her amazing weekend with the England U17s when Guthrie, making her debut, played four different positions in winning the five-game European Junior Tournament.
Her club and Island coach Linda Andrews, who travelled to Sheffield with her protegé, was told by selectors that it is ‘just a matter of time’ before Guthrie plays as a full international.
‘It was incredible,’ said Andrews.
‘Everyone was talking about her and people wanted her autograph.
‘I’ve never seen her play like that before, she was sensational.
It was standing room only in the hall, and every time she went for an interception you could hear a buzz going round the audience.
And when they announced her name as she went to get her medal she got the biggest cheer of the weekend.’ Guthrie was still on a high when she spoke to the JEP.
‘It was just amazing! I was a bit nervous in the first match against Northern Ireland, it was the first time I’d played with the rest, but I ended up really enjoying it.
There was a great crowd to cheer us on and it was really good fun.’ She enjoyed getting to know the rest of the team off-court too.
‘We’re all really good friends now, and we gelled very well on court and there was a great team spirit.
Team performance depends on a total team effort.’ The only downside of the weekend, she said, were the ice baths! ‘We had to get in them after the matches – they were very cold but I’m used to them now.’ She was quite happy to play out of position – her usual place on the court is as goal-defence but she played as goalkeeper, wing-defence and centre, as well as in her usual position.
‘I’ve always liked playing centre, you get a good run around,’ she said.
Her game improved throughout the weekend, Guthrie said.
‘I was pleased with the way I played, I definitely got better.
I loved the whole weekend.’
