Lionesses manager Sarina Weigman has named her squad for this month’s UEFA Women’s Nations League matches, with Brighton and Hove Albion forward Nikita Parris earning her first call-up since 2022.
There are also returns for Manchester United’s Ella Toone and Chelsea duo Lauren James and Niamh Charles following injuries. US based trio Anna Moorhouse, Jess Carter and Esme Morgan are also included.
However, there is no place in the squad for Chloe Kelly, who has found game time limited and made a loan move from Manchester City to Arsenal on Transfer Deadline Day last month.
Parris’ recall a reward for form
Parris last featured for the national team in November 2022, when she started a 1-1 draw against Norway, having also come on as a substitute in the previous game, a 4-0 win over Japan.
Her recall is a reward for the form she has shown since joining Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer. She scored a brace in this weekend’s FA Cup game against Aston Villa, although Albion went on to lose the match 3-2.
She has been an ever-present for Albion, scoring nine goals in 19 matches in all competitions, including four in 13 Women’s Super League matches. It makes her the club’s leading scorer so far in this campaign, comfortably ahead of Kiko Seike with five.
Weigman explains Kelly absence
A notable absence from the squad is Kelly, who wrote her name into English football folklore when scoring the winner in the final of the 2022 European Championships. However, is currently out of the picture.
Speaking to the media following the squad announcement, manager Sarina Weigman said: “She hasn’t played enough, in my opinion. Start playing and show us what you’re about and we can have a conversation.”
Weigman did however say that the door is not closed on Kelly for this summer’s defence of the European Championships, which take place in Switzerland in July. Another notable absence is defender Alex Greenwood, who is currently out through injury.
Who do England face?
England will begin their second UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign on Friday 21 February when they travel to the Algarve to face Portugal. Five days later they welcome Spain to Wembley Stadium in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup Final.
Their group is also rounded out by Belgium, who England face in a double-header in April before the reverse matches against Portugal in May and Spain in June, leading up to the European Championships.
What form are England in?
England go into this month’s matches having had a mixed 2024, although they are unbeaten in their last three matches which included a 0-0 draw with Olympic champions United States in November.
Over twelve matches in 2024, England won eight, drew two and lost two, scoring 25 and conceding 13. The two defeats coming to France and Germany, while the draws were home and away against Sweden.
There has been concern raised that the side are more regularly slipping up against other top nations and Weigman will no doubt be looking to address that before they start their European Championship defence on 5 July against France in Zurich.
Full Lionesses Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Millie Turner (Man Utd), Leah Williamson (captain, Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Blinkilde-Brown (Man City), Grace Clinton (Man Utd), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Jess Park (Man City), Ella Toone (Man Utd), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jess Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)