Since Millie Bright’s injury sustained against Tottenham in February, our number eight has taken on the mantle. Cuthbert has worn the armband with pride ever since, with Keira Walsh also stepping in at times this season.

February also saw the Scotland star named as vice captain of her national team, and she will likely be handed her 85th cap when they face Belgium in a Women's World Cup qualifier on Tuesday evening.

As Chelsea fans can undoubtedly attest, she has laser focus on the job at hand. So for Cuthbert, it’s business as usual when she’s on the pitch, and she refuses to allow any distractions from achieving the team’s objectives.

‘I think it comes with experience,’ said Cuthbert when we sat down with her before the international break. ‘It comes with knowing the club for so long, knowing what it means to be here, knowing what it means to play for the badge, knowing what it means to the fans.

‘I understand all of that, so it’s just a case of trying to instil that in my performances in every game.

‘Of course, it's a proud moment. It's a proud moment for my family as well, but it's certainly one that I try not to overthink because then you can become really overawed by it.

‘To be honest, it makes no difference to me whether I'm wearing the armband or not. I'm still going to behave the same way. I am still going to prepare the same way, and I'm still going to give the same effort with or without it.

‘Yes, there's an added responsibility because when things are maybe not going so well, people look to you. You have to be the example that people then follow.’

Leaders come in all guises. Cuthbert prefers to model what she wants to see in others, to lead by example. And while she isn’t shy about being vocal, she has learned not to rely on verbal communication during games for one very good reason.

‘I think sheer determination and mentality are how I’d describe my leadership style,’ she continues. ‘I’m probably a leader through my actions and my behaviours on the pitch. I think that I leave it all out there, leave nothing to chance. You’re always going to get 100 per cent from me every single time, no matter if I'm having a good or a bad game. That's the minimum I expect from my team-mates as well.

‘I am quite a vocal leader as well on the pitch, but, you know, as the game's growing and the fans are growing, so it's becoming increasingly difficult to communicate because of the noise. You need to make sure that all the prep work is done in training leading up to the games, because you might not get that opportunity during matches anymore.’

Whether her team-mates can hear her or not, one thing is for sure when it comes to Erin Cuthbert: she will be leading by example.