BENARTY football star Lucy Graham has targeted playing a crucial role in reaching a major tournament after reigning in Spain with Scotland.

The 23-year-old, who plays her club football with Everton, travelled with Shelley Kerr's squad for the Pinatar Cup tournament and featured in each of their three matches with Ukraine, Iceland and Northern Ireland.

In their opening match against the Ukrainians, which the Scots won 3-0, Graham made just her second start for the national side at senior level, and followed that with another against Northern Ireland last Tuesday night, with a substitute appearance against Iceland sandwiched in between.

Lucy, who now has six caps to her name, was delighted to be involved and told Times Sport of her desire to help take the team to next year's European Championships in England.

"We came out with one objective, which was to win all three games, and that's what we've done," she said.

"It was a great experience; Shelley (Kerr) is a great coach. I started two out of the three games, and played for the last 20 minutes against Iceland, so it was good to get that amount of game time.

"For me, it's about trying to build relationships with these players, and improving my game. Every time I'm called away, I want to play, but I just need to keep working hard with my club.

"With the Euros being based in the UK, we would have a good support down, and it would be great to be able to have family there.

"When you're with the international squad, you're playing against the very top players, and it's a challenge at the very highest level. I was in good form with my club, so I went into it feeling confident and positive.

"There are a few things to work on and learn from, but I felt like I played well. It was a good experience, playing with different players, and hopefully I can hold down a place."

Lucy, who has six senior caps, is also thriving at club level, having been appointed the Toffees' on-field captain after joining from Bristol City last summer.

In addition to teaming-up with Blues coach Willie Kirk at a third club, having previously played under him at Hibernian and Bristol City, she made history by scoring in the first-ever women's Merseyside derby to be played at Anfield.

Her first half strike sealed a 1-0 win over Liverpool and, in Everton's first match at their new Walton Hall Park home, found the net again in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

"For me, moving from Bristol to Everton was a step in the right direction," she continued.

"It can hopefully get me a place in the international squad more frequently, and we're doing well. A few results haven't went our way, but it's exciting times.

"To be named captain was humbling. I'm very happy; there's a lot of responsibilities on and off the pitch, but I'm enjoying it."

Of her Anfield glory, she added: "The stadium was pretty full, so the emotions were pretty high afterwards, and I had family there to see it.

"It's something that I'll always remember for a long time."