Sandy Maclver and Bethany England have been dropped as Sarina Wiegman recalled three players for the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup.
Ellie Roebuck returns to the squad after injury prevented her from participating in 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in November 2021, with Maclver consequently dropped from the squad.
Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson both return in defence after recovering from injury as the only two new outfield additions, as Wiegman opted not to drop any of her seven defenders selected for the last round of international action.
Chelsea’s Fran Kirby has been switched from the forward selection and will instead feature in Wiegman’s midfield options for this month’s friendly tournament, alongside a retained selection of Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh and Katie Zelem.
Up front, England has been left out due to a calf injury as Wiegman otherwise retained her striker selection with Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead, Nikita Parris, Alessio Russo, Ella Toone and Ellen White all retaining their places in the squad.
Speaking about what she hopes her squad can achieve from this friendly tournament on home soil ahead of hosting the Women’s Euros this summer, Wiegman iterated that these fixtures “will be the perfect way” to learn about her squad’s potential heading into the Euros.
Wiegman also spoke about how three fixtures in six days will be crucial, as she commented: “The rhythm of three games in ten days will also help us, offering more opportunity for rotation, to understand more about our squad and the way we want to play.
“This tournament can only help us on our way to being ready for the opening match of the EUROs. That is what we are all working towards.
The inaugural Arnold Clark Cup will take place between 17-23 February 2022 with England, Canada, Spain and Germany all facing each other in a round-robin friendly tournament format across the following three venues in double-headers on three dates;
- Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough (Thursday 17 February)
- Carrow Road, Norwich (Sunday 20 February)
- Molineux, Wolverhampton (Wednesday 23 February)
ITV will broadcast the tournament with five of the six fixtures televised on ITV4, whilst England’s clash against Spain at Carrow Road will be broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday 20 February.
Here is the 24-woman England Lionesses squad in full.
Goalkeepers – Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defence – Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfield – Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Aston Villa – on loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)
Forwards – Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessio Russo (Manchester United), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)
Leave a Reply