The US Women's National Team's high-performance coach Dawn Scott has this week joined Phil Neville's England set-up as senior women's physical performance manager.

The FA have appointed Scott off the back of her World Cup win with USWNT earlier this year, and believe that the North East-born coach can boost Phil Neville's Lionesses who ended this year on a poor run of results. 

Scott is familiar with The FA, having spent nine years as head of sports science and exercise science from 2001. She then joined the USWNT where she helped achieve gold at the 2012 Olympics and back-to-back World Championships in 2015 and 2019.

As well as working with the Lionesses, Scott will work closely with all 12 Women's Super League teams looking to build interaction and dialogue between clubs and country to help improve physical performance. Could Scott's work between both WSL and Lionesses staff perhaps prevent past scenarios, such as Fran Kirby's Lionesses withdrawal, from reoccurring?

Scott's first assignment will come in the shape of the SheBelievesCup which takes place early next year in the U.S. Her appointment comes in preparation for England's home Euros in 2021 as well as Team GB's Olympic campaign, and Lionesses boss Phil Neville has expressed his excitement to have Scott on board. 

"I am delighted we have secured Dawn’s services as she has worked and succeeded at the elite level and knows what it takes to win on the world stage," said Neville.

Earlier this month, The FA expressed their wish to stick with Phil Neville as Lionesses manager after a poor run had fans questioning his future. England's semi-final exit from this summer's World Cup was followed by a string of disappointing results. The Lionesses ended 2019 with an unconvincing win against Czech Republic, meaning they'd only managed two wins in seven.

The FA's Head of Football Baroness Sue Campbell is backing Scott to be the boost that England Women need.

"Securing Dawn’s services is a positive step in that direction and we welcome her back to The FA.

“She has played a central role in the success of the USA women’s team and we know that she will bring great insight and expertise to our team," said the Baroness.

Speaking on her appointment, Scott described her decision to join the Lionesses as the hardest she's ever had to make, having "thoroughly enjoyed [her] time with US Soccer".