Sarina Weigman has named her England Women squad for the Nations League double header against Portugal and Spain next month, with three of the side that won the 2022 European Championship returning after long term injuries.
Manchester City duo Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp have been included after returning from injury in April, while Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway is also recalled despite not yet returning for her club.
England are second in Group A3 of the Nations League after four games and will qualify for the finals for the first time if they win both of their remaining games, the last two before they begin the defence of the Euros.
Welcome returns for experienced players
One issue Weigman has faced throughout this season is being without a number of key players due to long term injuries so she will no doubt have been pleased to be able to call on Greenwood, Hemp and Stanway.
Hemp last featured for her country in October’s 2-1 friendly win over South Africa and returned for their last two games of the season. Despite missing half the season, she still managed to top the league for assists with eight.
Greenwood’s has also missed the whole Nations League campaign so far, last featuring in the goalless draw with the United States in November. Despite expressing concern about lack of game time, the duo have been recalled.
In addition, Stanway has yet to return from injury for Bayern Munich, but Weigman is keen to give her time on the training ground. However, Lauren James has been ruled out due to the injury that forced her to miss Chelsea’s last two games.
First senior call-up for Morris
As well as the high profile returns, there is one new face in the squad in the form of Tottenham Hotspur defender Ella Morris, who has played for her country at every youth level from Under 15s all the way of Under 23s.
Morris gained her first call-up for the Under 23s in February 2023 for games against Spain and Belgium. Her first goal came in September of the same year when she scored in a 3-0 win over the Belgians.
Prior to joining Tottenham last summer she was at home town club Southampton and was part of the side that won a Women’s National League South and Women’s National League Cup double in the 2022-23 season.
Nations League- how it stands
Following four of the six matchdays in the Nations League, defending champions Spain top Group A3 with nine points, two behind England. Portugal are third in the group with four points and Belgium bottom on three.
Matchday Five on Friday 30 May sees England host Portugal at Wembley, while Spain travel to Belgium. Should the top two both claim victories in those games, they will be assured of finishing in the top two of the group and being in League A for the next Nations League cycle.
This would also set up a winner takes all showdown between the sides in Catalonia four days later. Should Spain better England’s result on Matchday Five, they would secure top spot and a place in the finals.
Lionesses Squad in full
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze (both Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Ella Morris (Tottenham Hotspur), Leah Williamson (captain, Arsenal)
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Missy Bo Kearns (West Ham United), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards: Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City, on loan at Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)