Angry Aluko condemns ‘poisonous’ Twitter jibes

The England striker Eniola Aluko has reacted furiously to "poisonous" Twitter comments about her ahead of this evening's Women's World Cup group game against New Zealand in Dresden.

The New Jersey Sky Blue player, whose brother Sone plays for Aberdeen, looks set to keep her place in Hope Powell's team despite missing several good chances during Monday's 1-1 draw with Mexico in the Group B opener.

Aluko, 24, has received a number of abusive tweets since the match and has responded with some strongly worded – though not inflammatory – tweets of her own. "I'm not intending to miss chances," she said as she looked ahead to tonight's game, "and so I'm not having negativity directed at me when I'm giving my all for this team.

"Comment all you like on me, but when people @ me [post a public message] and write directly to me, I don't appreciate it. It's intrusive and it's poisonous. If you're an England fan and you want me to improve for the next game, and write 'You're s**t', I don't need it.

"You can't lace my boots, you're sitting on your sofa behind your keyboard, the next game you'll ask me for my autograph. So don't write s**t about me when I'm a good player and I can go into the next game and perform really well."

Aluko and her colleagues will have to perform better than they did on Monday if they are to get the result they need against New Zealand, who lost 2-1 to Japan. "New Zealand are a very strong, physical team but they can play football," said the striker.