Being in England will also help with her international ambitions. Bronze was part of the England U19 team that won the European championships in Belarus in July. And she has just been chosen for the England Women’s U20 training camp, alongside Sunderland team-mates Jordan Nobbs, Demi Stokes and Rachael Laws, in Manchester next month.

“Lucy’s been very busy with her college football in America,” said Sunderland boss Mick Mulhern.  “The game over there is much more based around fitness and chasing people down, so I have no doubt about her fitness. She only arrived back in England this week, but she goes straight into the squad.”

After successive wins against Arsenal, Chelsea and Bristol Academy at Hetton, Mulhern will consider his selection options but he is definitely without striker Sophie Williams, who is still struggling with the after-effects of glandular fever. Midfielder Lucy Staniforth is available again, though, after recovering from medial ligament damage.

“Lucy Bronze can play across the defence and also in midfield, so I have options. Abby Holmes has come in at right-back this season and done an excellent job. I re-signed Sarah Danby a few weeks back and she has come in and done well, and got a couple of goals.
It’s all extra competition within the squad and that can only be good.”

Sunderland are six points clear at the top of the Premier League, although they have played more games than all the other clubs. Nevertheless, Mulhern wants points from tomorrow’s game to make sure his side finishes the year on top of the division.

“It’s been an amazing year,” he admitted. “Last season I did expect us to win the Northern Division as I felt we were the best side. I certainly didn’t envisage being top of the Premier League at this stage but we are and I want to stay there as long as possible. We know that some clubs will catch us. A place in the top six was the target at the start of the season and we are on course for that. But we won’t take Birmingham lightly. We beat them 3-1 at home earlier in the season, but they have signed Isobel Christiansen – who was one of my main targets – from Everton, and they will be a different proposition this time.”

Sunderland must complete their bid for the new summer Super League, which starts in March, 2011, by the end of next week.  The Football Association has this week agreed a deal with ESPN to broadcast the games, and Sunderland are hoping to win one of the eight places up for grabs in the league.