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 games against the USWNT and Switzerland, along with Orlando Pride’s 29-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

Manchester United defender Gabby George returns to Wiegman’s 24-man 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 teammate Millie Turner, but Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy drops out.

England are without a number of senior players for the 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 picking up 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-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 as she 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.

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England women’s squad in full

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).

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

Wiegman: Kelly club minutes ‘a concern’

Wiegman admitted Kelly’s lack of minutes for City was “a concern right now” after picking the 26-year-old despite not starting in the WSL since her side’s win 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 (Kelly’s playing time) is a concern right now already,” Wiegman said. “It’s a tough situation, the competition at Manchester City is high.

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

(Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Wiegman also explained the first call-ups of 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 this summer. Able to play in central defense and midfield, she has made eight WSL appearances this season and becomes the first player in Leicester’s history to be called up to the England Women’s senior squad.

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

“(They’re) young players, very talented players,” Wiegman added. “Obviously the competition at City is really high in midfield for Laura, but she will get some minutes. But they have also done really well in the U-23s. This is an opportunity to bring them in, see them in our environment. I hope , they start competing right away.”

(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)