The 20-year-old has been included in Emma Coates’ Young Lionesses squad for European Championship fixtures with Italy (26 October) and Portugal (30 October).
Her inclusion follows a promising start to the 2023/24 season where she’s made three appearances for Gareth Taylor’s side - fresh from helping Leicester preserve their Barclays Women’s Super League status in a strong loan spell with the Foxes during the second half of last term.
And the versatile youngster revealed she achieves a childhood ambition every time she represents her country, regardless of the age group.
“It’s an honour [to represent your country], it’s always an honour to put the shirt on,” she explained.
“I’ve got big dreams, I want to be a Lioness one day and try and make the squad as soon as possible. To play for the Under-23s is also a dream come true.
“When I was younger it was always something I wanted to do, and I’ve just got to keep working hard to stay in that team now.”
Mace will be in familiar surroundings when England face Portugal Under-23s, with the fixture being played at the Joie Stadium on Monday 30 October at 18:00 (UK).
Coates’ side ran out 3-2 winners the last time the two sides met in an enthralling encounter in April.
City’s defender is expecting another tough assignment when the nations lock horns once again, but she is also relishing the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd in Manchester.
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She added: “It would be unreal [to play for England at the Joie Stadium] and it’s good to get the fans down as well. It would be great.
“Yeah definitely [it might feel odd], but it will also feel like home and give me confidence as well because I know the pitch.
“All pitches are the same but nothing feels more like home than our pitch at the Joie Stadium.
“We’ve played them before and they gave us a good test and I think it’s now about us doing what we do well which will benefit us and not focusing too much on the opposition.
“Playing our own football and hopefully lots of goals.”
