Alex Morgan is a "global superstar" and it would be "very silly" if she was left out of the United States Women's World Cup squad, according to former team-mate Carly Telford.

The Stars and Stripes head to Australia and New Zealand in July aiming to land a third successive world title, having triumphed in 2015 and 2019, with 33-year-old Morgan hoping to feature at her fourth finals.

The San Diego Wave forward, who was also part of the side that were beaten by Japan in the 2011 final, will be desperate to be included in Vlatko Andonovski's squad, and add to her impressive tally of 121 goals in 206 caps.

Former England goalkeeper Telford, who was part of the Lionesses' squads that reached consecutive semi-finals in 2015 and 2019, knows Morgan well, having played alongside her in California before announcing her retirement in March.

Telford is adamant Morgan should not miss out on the finals.

"She's huge," Telford told Stats Perform. "Without Alex, I don't think the game would get some of the recognition that it's getting. I think she's a global superstar. 

"She performs on and off the pitch. She's not just a footballer; she stands for quality, diversity, everything that is good about being a good person.

"She'll fight for women's rights to make sure that everyone has equal opportunities. She doesn't have to do that; she could just turn up and play football.

"Spending time with her and being in a team with her for 12 months and realising the work that she does on and off the pitch, she's an absolute ambassador to the game. 

"She speaks so highly, so well about the game. I just hope she does go to the World Cup because she's a superstar, and it would be sad if she didn't. But I think she's playing well enough, it would be very silly to leave her out."

USA have been drawn alongside the Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam in Group E, and face a potential last-16 encounter against either Sweden or Italy.

And though there is a slight veteran feel to the USA's likely roster, Telford insists their World Cup pedigree means they will take some stopping once again, and feels their character on the big stage is epitomised by Lyon forward Lindsey Horan.

"They're mentally monsters," she added. "Everyone might be like 'They're not as good as they used to be, they're ageing'. 

"But I'll tell you what, when they cross that white line, it doesn't matter who they're playing. They will fight, they will scrap, they will battle, they will try and play good football. But at the end of the day, they're just ultimate winners. 

"I think that when you've got someone like Lindsey on the pitch, she is the ultimate at that. She'll break play up, she'll bite, she'll scrap, she'll tackle, she'll drive everyone around her. 

"I just think when it comes to the Americans, when they get into competition mode; they're just a different breed."

Carly Telford has backed her former England team-mate Chloe Kelly to be the Lionesses' crucial player at the upcoming Women's World Cup.

Manchester City attacker Kelly scored the winner as England beat Germany to win the Women's Euros in 2022.

The 25-year-old did not make a start for Sarina Wiegman's team in last year's tournament, with all six of her appearances coming from the bench.

But ex-England and Chelsea goalkeeper Telford reckons Kelly will be an even more pivotal figure at the World Cup, which will take place across July and August in Australia and New Zealand.

"For the Lionesses, she's going to be probably one of our most important players," Telford told Stats Perform. "With her fitness, with her assists, hopefully with lots of goals.

"She's just a really nice kid. And she's thriving in her role and I think she's probably going to be given a lot more responsibility because she's probably going to be a starter for England, which she should be in her form.

"She's ultra-competitive. So I like to think Sarina [will] give her a lot of responsibility at this World Cup because I think she'll be ready for it."

Kelly has scored five goals in the Women's Super League for City this season, while providing nine assists in the competition.

It has been a pleasure to watch for Telford, who explained that Kelly has become an even stronger player since sustaining a serious knee injury in 2021.

"She's probably been Manchester City's best player, most consistent player, the most important in terms of her roles in goals and assists," Telford added.

"If you come off the back of a huge injury like that, you're probably thinking 'Am I going to come back the player I was, am I even going to come back at all?'

"She's probably come back a better player than what she was, probably a more rounded person because she's gone through some heartache and had to probably have lots of self-reflective moments like, 'Are you doing the right things?' She's come off the back of that and she's flying."