Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

England squad confirmed: Man City, Man United stars among notable absentees for Sarina Wiegman

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 November 2024, 11:34
England Women's boss Sarina Wiegman has confirmed a 24-player squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland on home soil.

The Lionesses conclude a mixed 2024 with two exhibition contests on familiar territory, firstly welcoming the USA to Wembley on November 30 before hosting the Swiss at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on December 3.

October's contests saw England suffer an enthralling 4-3 loss to Germany at Wembley before a 2-1 triumph over South Africa in Coventry, and there have been a couple of enforced alterations to Wiegman's squad for this month's battles.

Manchester City Women's Lauren Hemp and Manchester United Women's Ella Toone are both nowhere to be seen, as the former has gone under the knife to treat a knee injury and will be sidelined for an unspecified period of time.

Meanwhile, Toone - who seldom spends time out injured - will miss out with a calf problem, while Lauren James, Niamh Charles and Lucy Parker are also out of the picture this month due to fitness problems.

England call up two new faces amid injury problems

Wiegman was pressed for details on Hemp's surgery in her press conference on Tuesday, but other than confirming that the 24-year-old had not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, she remained tight-lipped.

With Hemp and Toone sidelined, Wiegman has included two uncapped 21-year-olds in Leicester City's Ruby Mace and Manchester City's Laura Blindkilde Brown, who were born within a few days of each other in September 2003.

Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is the only other uncapped player in England's ranks this month, and there is a first call-up in two years for Manchester United defender Gabby George.

As well as the injured Toone, Parker and Hemp, Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy is the fourth player from October's ranks to be omitted this time around, as the 25-year-old makes way for George.

"This is an important international window for us to continue our work to be ready for next summer's EURO. Every minute of these two games and every moment spent together at St. George's Park is to make sure we're where we need to be when the tournament begins on 2 July," Wiegman told englandfootball.com.

"As we continue our preparations we want to test ourselves against the very best and that's why we have carefully selected the USA and Switzerland. They are two opponents who will challenge us in different ways this window and that's exactly what we want.

"The USA need no introductions and to play them at Wembley Stadium in front of a packed home crowd again is going to be very special. Under Emma they've reached a really top level.

"Switzerland are improving all the time and their impressive victory against France last month shows what they are capable of and how much they continue to grow and develop. It'll be nice to return to Sheffield, a stadium which gave us one of our most memorable moments together but our full focus is now on our next chapter as a team."

Following their final two fixtures of 2024, England will learn their opponents for Euro 2025 when the group-stage draw is held on December 16, and the Lionesses commence next year's UEFA Nations League against Portugal (February 21) and Spain (February 26).

England squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), 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 & Hove Albion), 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), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

Top News

23 November 2024 talksport.com Mikel Arteta left Arsenal fans confused with a much-changed starting XI to face Nottingham Forest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has insisted Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are best served to stay put for the time being despite being linked with moves away from the club. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has lavished praise on Mason Mount and suggested that the Englishman will be an important player for him at Old Trafford. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Mary's is the venue for Sunday's meeting between the Premier League's leaders and basement boys, as Liverpool take on 20th-placed Southampton in a 2pm kickoff. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Philippe Senderos played against countless Premier League legends, but one stands out as the toughest. 23 November 2024 talksport.com The second half in Chelsea's clash against Leicester City was delayed due to two officials being forced to change their roles. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Ex-Premier League striker Darren Bent could not believe Wilfred Ndidi escaped a red card against Chelsea. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has explained why Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto were left out of his squad to face Leicester City. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Christopher Nkunku is unhappy with the little game time he receives at Chelsea and is considering his future, according to reports. 23 November 2024 talksport.com New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has revealed he is a huge fan of Mason Mount. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is facing a couple of critical decisions for Monday's Premier League fixture with Newcastle United at St James' Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has made several surprise inclusions in his Chelsea XI for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Leicester City. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe will be unable to call upon Dan Burn for Monday's Premier League clash with West Ham United at St James' Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to win three straight Premier League games for the first time in over 12 months, Newcastle United host a troubled West Ham United at St James' Park in Monday's Premier League offering. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Brentford may have managed to seamlessly replace Ivan Toney with Bryan Mbeumo, but this might not be a long-term solution. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly facing an anxious wait to determine the severity of Reece James' latest hamstring injury. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal have reportedly been handed a boost in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane set a new Bundesliga record on Friday, eclipsing a feat previous held by Erling Haaland in the process. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both stuck inside Serie A's drop zone and facing a season-long scrap for survival, Venezia and Lecce will meet at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Monday evening. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Trailing their visitors by one point in the Serie A standings, Empoli will attempt to leapfrog Udinese with a win at Stadio Castellani on Monday evening. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Eyupspor vs. Caykur Rizespor (Saturday, 10.30am) Eyupspor and Caykur Rizespor will kick off round 13 of the Turkish Super Lig when they go head-to-head at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on Saturday. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles vs. Almere City (Saturday, 3.30pm) Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Betis (Saturday, 1.00pm) Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hellas Verona vs. Inter Milan (Saturday, 2.00pm) One of six sides within two points of the Serie A summit, reigning champions Inter Milan continue their title defence on Saturday, when they visit Hellas Verona. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk B. Leverkusen vs. Heidenheim (Saturday, 2.30pm) Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lens vs. Marseille (Saturday, 4.00pm) Saturday evening will see Lens welcome Marseille to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in one of the standout games in Ligue 1 this weekend. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers vs. Dundee Utd (Saturday, 3.00pm) Rangers, aiming to build consistent form after a challenging start to the season, host Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moreirense and Porto return to action in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal when they go head to head at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on Sunday.