Demi Stokes wants to keep women’s football “on the map” after the game’s surge of popularity during this summer’s World Cup.

More people tuned in for England’s semi-final defeat to the United States than the finals of the men’s Cricket World Cup and Wimbledon.

The England and Manchester City defender believes it is partly down to the players and the clubs in the Women’s Super League to keep the demand for women’s football high.

The cup holders will kick off their WSL season with a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on September 7.

Stokes said City would be pushing for all three domestic trophies this year, as well as the Champions League after they lost to Atletico Madrid in the last 32 last season.

She said: “We know we have to do better and we know if we take our foot off the gas it’s us who will beat ourselves, not other teams.

“We know that the demands are very high and no game is going to be easy but the league is getting better, we’re getting players from all over the world, players are improving, people are full-time, so you can’t expect it to be easy.”

This season will be Manchester United’s first in the Super League after they were promoted from the second tier last season, winning 18 of their 20 matches.

On starting the season against United, Stokes said: “Obviously they’re a new team and we know some of the players but in terms of the team and how they’re going to play and set up, we’re not sure what they’re going to do so it’s exciting.”