Lexi Potter, the Chelsea midfielder, has received her first senior England call-up for the Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece, while Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have been dropped by Sarina Wiegman.
England’s head coach said of Toone and Kelly: “The main reason is the levels weren’t quite what I expected from them on the pitch.”
Calls for the inclusion of the 20-year-old Potter had grown significantly this term after her strong form for Chelsea, including her starring role in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal. Wiegman has also called up the uncapped 18-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson and the London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey, and there is a return after injury for the captain Leah Williamson.
The Lionesses face Greece in the first leg at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete, on Friday 9 October before the return at Leicester’s King Power Stadium the following Tuesday, needing victory to reach December’s second round of the playoffs.
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool), Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City on loan from Orlando Pride)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Manchester City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage), Lexi Potter (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Arsenal), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards: Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
“We have great respect for Greece, but our expectations of ourselves are clear,” Wiegman said. “We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup.
“It’s always exciting to reconnect as a group and we are looking forward to getting back together. The players will arrive motivated and ready for the next steps.”
