'They think I just go home and make TikToks - it's not true'

Leicester City striker Alisha Lehmann is arguably the most recognisable female footballer in the world.

“- Published Leicester City striker Alisha Lehmann is arguably the most recognisable female footballer in the world”

BBC

Boasting nearly 16 million followers on Instagram and a further 11.8 million on TikTok, she walked the catwalks of Milan last year while playing in Italy and her striking looks regularly catch the attention of the tabloids.

BBC

By her own recognition, that can establish a certain public perception - and it is something she is keen to quash after swapping Mediterranean life for a relegation battle in the East Midlands.

The publicity surrounding her January move focused as much on her off-field persona as what she brought to the team.

Lehmann first moved to the Women's Super League in 2018, joining West Ham after scoring twice in the 2018 European Under-19 Championship.

Across six years in England, she made 108 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists during spells in east London, Everton and Aston Villa.

BBC

After a difficult time in Italy with Juventus and then Como, Lehmann says returning to a country she thinks of as 'home' was an obvious decision.

'I signed a long-term deal in Como but after a month I realised I didn't like it and wanted to return to England,' she explains.

'I love it here, the football is better and England feels like home to me.'

Lehmann's January arrival at then 11th-placed Leicester City headlined boss Rick Passmoor's attempts to recruit experienced players to help dig his youthful team out of trouble.

She was joined at King Power Stadium by WSL stalwarts Ashleigh Neville, 32, from Tottenham and Manchester United striker Rachel Williams, 38, among others.

However, the ploy has yet to bear dividends.

“- Published Leicester City striker Alisha Lehmann is arguably the most recognisable female footballer in the world”

BBC

Last week's defeat by fellow strugglers Liverpool, coupled with West Ham's draw against Manchester United on Wednesday, means the Foxes are adrift at the bottom by three points with five games to go.

Having scored just eight goals all season, the prospect of a relegation play-off against the third-placed side in WSL 2 is looming.

Despite their perilous position, Passmoor believes Lehmann has made a positive impact and backs up how his striker perceives herself.

'She is incredible,' he says.

'She's exactly what you want - a leader, a professional.'

She works harder than anyone else in the building.

She wants us to be successful and she wants to win football matches.

If we could mirror her mindset across the football club, we'd be in a very good place.

Lehmann remains convinced Leicester can get out of trouble.

'The situation we're in now isn't the best,' she says.

BBC

'We're all doing everything we can to be the best version of ourselves and stay in the WSL.'

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast.

New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed.