Leah Williamson and Lauren James have been named in Sarina Wiegman’s 25-player England squad for their upcoming Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The pair have returned from injury to be selected for the fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland, having not featured for the Lionesses since Euro 2025, while goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and defenders Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood are back in after not being part of November’s experimental squad.
London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson has earned her first senior call-up, but Wiegman has a host of injury issues.
Arsenal trio Beth Mead, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, Chelsea left-back Niamh Charles and Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns are all ruled out.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has been preferred to Khiara Keating, who Wiegman has “big concerns” over her lack of playing time at Manchester City this season and will be part of the England U23s squad.
England Women’s squad
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotha), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Man City), Grace Clinton (Man City, Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea).
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Jess Park (Man Utd), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
Wiegman: England squad is a puzzle due to injuries
Wiegman has been able to recall some of her most experienced players, but admits the squad has been difficult to put together due to the number of injuries.
“There’s a little bit of a puzzle at the moment, but at the same time, I think we have enough players in the squad to play good games and to have players on the pitch that are fit and can perform at the highest level,” she said.
“We have this week at their clubs, then they come to us and we have some proper time to get ready for the game on Tuesday [March 3]. We’ll see where we get there, but I’m confident that we get a good team on the pitch.”
Williamson’s return comes after having started just once in the Women’s Super League for Arsenal this season, but Wiegman is confident that the centre-back is still one of the best players to pick.
Wiegman said: “I’m very happy and it feels very good for her too. She really wanted to be back, but some more players are coming back next week, so I’m looking forward to that.
“She’s trained and I’m in close contact with her, I’m in close contact with the club and she’s in a good place, but yes, she has a little bit of a lack of minutes.
“Some other players are still in the building or didn’t get the minutes we hoped for. That’s also one of the reasons why we go with bigger squads and we do have some time to come together before we get ready for the Ukraine game. I still think those are the best players to call up.”
England Women’s World Cup qualifiers
March 3: Ukraine (a), Mardan Stadyumu, Turkey – 5pm
March 7: Iceland (h), The City Ground – 12.30pm
April 14: Spain (h), Wembley – 7pm
April 18: Iceland (a), tbc
June 5: Spain (a), tbc
June 9: Ukraine (h), tbc
