Phil Neville has identified the progress that the England set-up has made around the menstrual cycle as the key development during his reign as head coach, with the subject no longer taboo among the national team.

Neville also said his time as in charge has taught him the importance of employing bespoke programmes for womens football, covering both the physical and psychological aspects of players preparations.

The former Manchester United and Everton defender, who last month revealed he would leave his role with the national team in July next year, said the Football Association is already developing just such a model.

Weve made subjects like that a not taboo subject any more, he said. Its part and parcel of a female and within our Lioness group now, its not a taboo subject fo rmale or female staff. It affects performance and can enhance performance and once we accept that, Thats where weve made great strides.

Neville hailed the big impact that Dawn Scott has had on the England set-up since joining as senior physical performance manager last November. He praised Scott for introducing a system, ahead of the SheBelieves Cup in March, in which Englands players menstrual cycles were monitored.

Speaking to the Oxford Union podcast, Neville revealed his increased knowledge of female physiology and the workings of the female body had helped shape his vision for the womens game going forward. There needs to be a bespoke model for the physical side, the mental side, in terms of the preparation, you cant just put them both together, males and females, and say one shop fits all, he said.

Ive learnt that over the last two years and I learnt very quickly that from a physiological side, we need bespoke models for female athletes and female footballers. I think what were doing at the FA now, were developing that bespoke model.

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Phil Neville says menstrual cycle is not taboo for England and FA any longer - The Telegraph