Five years ago at the Hockey Writers’ Awards, Lizzie Neal was asked about her aims after winning the junior prize. “My ambition is to play at the 2020 Olympics – maybe if that’s a bit early, the one after,” she said at the time.

The Tokyo Games are now coming into view – as is the FIH Pro League – and Neal, 21, is also in the frame to make that ambition an early reality after a debut year in the GB women’s programme where she has prospered under coach Mark Hager’s stewardship.