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Beth Mead and Fran Kirby have returned to the England squad for the Nations League double header against Belgium next month.Both the Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion forwards missed the start of the Lionesses’ Nations League campaign in February through injury while there is also a return for Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Elsewhere there is a first senior call up for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Maisie Symonds.
Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy, City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace are all left out because of injury.
Mace’s Tottenham teammate Jessica Naz also drops out. Chloe Kelly, on loan from City to Arsenal, replaces her having being an injury replacement in the last squad.
Sarina Wiegman’s side face Belgium on Friday, April 4 at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate before they travel to Leuven on Tuesday, April 8. The teams last met in the 2023 Nations League, with both recording a win apiece.
England sit second in Group A3 after a win — over world champions Spain — and a draw, against Portugal, from their opening two games.
Wiegman said: “It’s good for us to be back together so quickly after a positive start to this year. We have a lot we want to achieve in the Nations League and although we are satisfied with our start in the group, there’s much more work to be done to improve our game.
“After two very difficult fixtures against them in 2023 we know the challenge Belgium will pose. We will need to be fully focused and perform at our best to get the two results we are looking for.
“I’m looking forward to getting the players together and continuing the hard work on the grass at St. George’s Park before travelling to Bristol. It will be a pleasure to return back to Ashton Gate, it’s a stadium that brings back happy memories and a crowd who gave us great support in 2023.
“To play in front of a sell-out crowd is not something we will ever take for granted and I’m sure their backing will provide us with the extra energy we need and hopefully help us secure three important points.”
England squad for Nations League fixtures
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Lucy Parker, Millie Turner, Leah Williamson
Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Maisie Symonds, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
England, UK Women's Football
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