Sarina Wiegman names England squad for USWNT and Switzerland friendlies

Sarina Wiegman has handed first senior call-ups to Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown and Leicester City’s Ruby Mace ahead of England’s final two international friendlies of the year.

Midfielders Blindkilde Brown and Mace, both 21, are two of three uncapped players selected for the fixtures against the USWNT and Switzerland, alongside Orlando Pride’s 29-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

Manchester United defender Gabby George returns to Wiegman’s 24-player squad for the first time since November 2022, having made six Women’s Super League (WSL) appearances this season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

There is also a recall for United team-mate Millie Turner but Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy drops out.

England are without a number of senior players for their final camp of the year, with Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, Lauren James and Niamh Charles all absent through injury.

Manchester United midfielder Toone misses out after sustaining a calf injury in training, while Manchester City winger Hemp is absent after undergoing knee surgery. Chelsea’s Charles missed the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder and club team-mate James has been sidelined since withdrawing from October’s England squad with a calf injury.

Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker also misses out through injury, having returned to the squad last month following her comeback from an ankle injury. City winger Chloe Kelly keeps her place despite being limited to just one WSL start this season.

England play the USWNT at Wembley Stadium on November 30 and Switzerland at Bramall Lane on December 3.

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (PSG), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride).

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Gabby George (Manchester United), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Brighton), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Barcelona).

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jess Naz (Tottenham), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).

Wiegman admitted Kelly’s lack of minutes for City was “a concern right now” after selecting the 26-year-old despite her not starting in the WSL since her side’s victory over West Ham United on October 6.

The England manager said last month that Kelly, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final and was also part of the England squad that reached the 2023 World Cup final, had “built credit” with the team to justify her selection.

“I think it’s (Kelly’s playing time) a concern right now already,” Wiegman said. “That’s a hard situation, competition at Manchester City is high.

“But also look at what players we have available. We have some injuries up front: Lauren Hemp, Lauren James. Chloe knows that she’s not in the best position at her club at the moment, but she has enough credit to bring her in related to the whole team and availability of players.”

Wiegman also explained the maiden call-ups for young midfielders Mace and Blindkilde Brown, saying their performances for the England Under-23s had earned the pair their place in the squad.

Arsenal academy product Mace joined Leicester in a permanent move from City in the summer. Capable of playing at centre-back and in midfield, she has made eight WSL appearances this season and becomes the first player in Leicester history to be called up to the England Women senior side.

Blindkilde Brown joined City from Villa in January and has featured three times in the WSL this season but started just once. She scored her first goal of the campaign in the Champions League victory over Hammarby earlier this month.

“(They are) young players, very talented players,” Wiegman added. “Of course, competition at City is really high in midfield for Laura but she gets some minutes. But they’ve also done really well in the Under-23s. This is an opportunity to bring them in, see them in our environment. I hope they start competing straight away.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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