Bethany England Recalled To England Squad For 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers Against North Macedonia and Northern Ireland

Bethany England has earned a recall in place of Chelsea teammate, Fran Kirby, for England’s latest round of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

England Lionesses manager, Sarina Wiegman has opted to make just one change from the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup winning team, as Bethany England returns after missing the friendly tournament with a calf injury.

England’s recall consequently means that her Chelsea teammate, Fran Kirby has been dropped, with the 28 year-old instead remaining with Chelsea to ‘work on her own programme.’

Wiegman has therefore retained the services of Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton and Ellie Roebuck in goal for qualifiers against North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.

Millie Bright who scored the second of England’s three goals to defeat Germany to clinch the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup, meanwhile features amongst nine players retained in the defensive selection alongside Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson amongst others.

Jordan Nobbs and Jill Scott meanwhile head the midfield selection with Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh and Katie Zelem also included in the line-up.

Ellen White meanwhile features amongst the Lionesses’ attacking options as she chases five goals to become England’s record goalscorer across both men and women’s teams.

Speaking about what she expects from her squad in the last chance to secure a place in the squad for Women’s Euro 2022 this summer, Wiegman insists that her players “… want to perform to our best and do what is necessary to get a good result. That will be no different for these two important fixtures.”

Wiegman is also viewing these fixtures as a chance to learn more about her squad’s ability ahead of the Euros, particularly given that the Lionesses will play Northern Ireland in their final group match of the Euros.

England will visit North Macedonia on Friday 8 April with kick-off set for 7pm BST, before making the short trip to Northern Ireland on Tuesday 12 April in a 7:55pm BST kick-off at Windsor Park, Belfast.

ITV4 will broadcast the Lionesses’ visit to North Macedonia whilst their trip to Northern Ireland will air on BBC2, due to BBC holding broadcasting rights to Northern Ireland home matches.

UPDATE (5 April): Niamh Charles and Bethany England have withdrawn from the squad after positive Coronavirus tests, with Wiegman opting not to replace both players in the squad.

Here is the 22-woman squad in full to face North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.

Goalkeepers – Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)

Defence – Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfield – 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)