FOOTBALLER Eniola Aluko faced one of the toughest tests of her life -- then turned out for England!

The Euro 2005 player was set to miss her AS-level history exam because it clashed with the team's game against Denmark at Ewood Park last night.

But St Mary's College, Shear Brow, stepped in to save the day and arranged for her to sit the exam in Blackburn rather than at home in Birmingham

.

The 18-year-old Charlton Athletic winger sat the exam in her England training kit before rushing over to Blackburn Rovers' ground.

She played in their 2-1 defeat by Denmark just hours later, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute.

She said: "It was a tough exam but I'm so pleased I can do it. The women's game is not as secure as the men's and I want to keep my options open by taking all of my exams."

Frank Nixon, deputy principal of St Mary's, said: "We are delighted to let Eniola take her exam with us and we hope she can make history on the pitch too."

St Mary's had to move fast to organise Eniola's exam. The college had to gain permission from her exam board and then organise for papers to be sent in time.

Eniola is in the England squad alongside local hero Rachel Brown. The Burnley-born goalkeeper has been an unused substitute in the team's first two games.

Eniola's studies have got in the way of her football before. Earlier this year she missed an international against Norway because it clashed with an exam.

But she won FA young player of the year in 2003 and in May she scored the winner against Everton in the Women's FA Cup final.

She hopes to return to St Mary's College if England reach the tournament final -- the date clashes with her sociology A-level exam.