Recently all eyes were focussed on Khadija Shaw in the marquee match-up between Manchester City and Liverpool in the Women’s Premier League and, of course, she delivered with two stunning goals in a 2-1 win on October 14.

However, what most Jamaicans didn’t notice was Liverpool Captain Taylor Hinds matched skills with Shaw in what was a gruelling encounter in front of 17,000 fans at Anfield.

Hinds, playing at left midfield in a 3-4-3 formation, stymied Shaw for nearly an hour before Shaw broke loose and scored twice — in the 58th and 90+2 minutes — in a famous come from behind win.But

But what many didn’t know was Hinds has become the newest Reggae Girl to team up with Shaw as Jamaica embarks on another mission to reach their third-consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.

The English-born Liverpool skipper qualifies to represent Jamaica through her grandparents who originated from Manchester. She is now in camp with the Reggae Girlz as they prepare to play France on Friday.

“My nana and granddad from Manchester. I’ve got a big, wide family as well and I feel proud and honoured to represent Jamaica,” said Hinds.

The 24-year-old Hinds has represented England at the Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 levels, and brings to Jamaica some versatility with her ability to play either centre half or midfield.

“I’m not just doing it for myself, not just for the team, but for my family as well,” she noted.

“I’m honoured to be here and my family [is] proud of me as well, especially my granddad. I think he was a bit shocked, but in a good way. I’m just proud to be here and I’m looking forward to the future,” she added.

Hinds, who was born in Northampton, said it was a difficult choice to choose between England and Jamaica.

“I definitely found it challenging because both countries are a part of me and a part of growing up,” she pointed out.

“I think there’s just something special about Jamaica and the culture and the way my family are as well, and it’s just I knew that I’d be happy here and I knew that I’d enjoy it here because of how everyone is and the bubbliness in everyone as well,” Hinds continued.

She began playing football at the age of 10 with the development squad for Northampton Town before moving onto Arsenal where she made her debut for that club in a 7–0 win over London Bee during the 2017 WSL FA Cup.

She then moved on to Everton in 2019 before making the unfamiliar move at Merseyside and switched to fierce rivals Liverpool in 2020 and won the FA Championship in 2022, earning promotion to the top-flight FA Women’s Super League.

Liverpool are currently sixth in the table with six points from five games. Shaw’s Manchester City lead with 13 points ahead of Chelsea with 12 points.