The Aston Villa star called time on her international career at the age of 32 last week and the defender admits that she is bereft following her friend and teammate's decision to end her time as a Lioness.

Bright told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast: "I feel like I've lost half of me, half of me has gone. More so than anyone I knew it was coming but even though you know something's coming it's still hard to take.

"But I think the biggest thing is everyone was so shocked because she has so much to give still, but as we know football is more than just the physical side, it's the mental side as well. I could be selfish and say, 'Stay another year, fight for the Euros', but that would be selfish and I would never do that."

Meanwhile, Bright recently returned to training at Chelsea after a five-month absence with a knee injury and described it as "amazing" to be back on the grass again.

The defender said: "Just to be out there screaming at players again, it was nice to be back on the grass and back with the team.

"(During) injury, it's probably the hardest thing, you feel so distant from everyone. Even as hard as you try to stay connected, you do feel like a bit of an outsider."

Bright explained that she had done everything in order to gain "all the small percentages" in her recovery.

She said: "I think I've probably drove my agent insane by having to say no to a million things but for me my priority – even when I'm playing – is to be like 'rehab, go home, walk the dogs' and that's it.

"Some days, I didn't even walk the dogs because it was more beneficial for me to come in fresher the next day."