{"id":583098,"date":"2021-02-09T11:51:22","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T16:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=583098"},"modified":"2021-02-09T11:51:22","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T16:51:22","slug":"beth-mead-nikita-parris-key-absentees-hege-riise-names-first-england-womens-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/02\/09\/beth-mead-nikita-parris-key-absentees-hege-riise-names-first-england-womens-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Beth Mead and Nikita Parris Key Absentees as Hege Riise Names First England Women’s Squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hege Riise<\/a> has named her first England squad for the Lionesses\u2019 friendly against Northern Ireland on February 23 \u2013 their first fixture in almost a year.<\/a><\/p>\n

Hege Riise Names First England Squad With Key Players Missing<\/h2>\n

A Total of 20 Players Included<\/h3>\n

A total of 20 players have been included in the squad for the match against Kenny Shiels\u2019 side, which comes at the end of a five-day training camp at St George\u2019s Park.<\/p>\n

Fans in the United Kingdom will be able to see the match live on the BBC, in what is the first meeting between the nations since a European Championships qualifier in 2008.<\/p>\n

The Northern Ireland match is the first of two scheduled fixtures for the Lionesses, ahead of a game with Canada on April 13 \u2013 a time and venue for the match is still to be confirmed.<\/p>\n

Beth Mead Omitted<\/h3>\n

The most notable omission from Riise\u2019s squad is Arsenal<\/a> forward Beth Mead<\/a>, with Riise claiming that her \u201cform hasn\u2019t been great.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Mead has appeared in all 12 of Arsenal\u2019s Women\u2019s Super League games to date, scoring three goals, but will not join Gunners teammates Leah Williamson<\/a>, Lotte Wubben-Moy<\/a> and Jordan Nobbs<\/a> in the squad.<\/p>\n

Other high-profile omissions include Nikita Parris<\/a> of Olympique Lyonnais. The French club unwilling to release the striker for international duty due to Covid-19 restrictions. Meanwhile, fellow Liverpudlian and Atletico Madrid forward, Toni Duggan<\/a> is also excluded.<\/p>\n

Rachel Daly<\/a>, who had a spell on loan with West Ham United<\/a> earlier this season, is the only player outside of the Women\u2019s Super League to be included.<\/p>\n

Jill Scott<\/a> is one of 10 Manchester City<\/a> players included and would win her 150th cap if she features in the match.<\/p>\n

Four Uncapped Players Named<\/h3>\n

There are four uncapped players involved, which include goalkeepers Hannah Hampton<\/a> and Sandy MacIver<\/a> of Birmingham City and Everton<\/a> respectively, Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy<\/a> and Manchester United<\/a>\u2019s Ella Toone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The squad in full is listed below.<\/p>\n

Goalkeepers:\u00a0<\/strong>Hannah Hampton<\/a> (Birmingham), Sandy MacIver<\/a> (Everton), Ellie Roebuck<\/a> (Manchester City)<\/p>\n

Defenders:\u00a0<\/strong>Millie Bright<\/a> (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze<\/a> (Manchester City), Rachel Daly<\/a> (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood<\/a> (Manchester City), Steph Houghton<\/a> (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly<\/a> (Manchester City), Leah Williamson<\/a> (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)<\/p>\n

Midfielders:<\/strong>\u00a0Jordan Nobbs<\/a> (Arsenal), Jill Scott<\/a> (Everton on loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway<\/a> (Manchester City), Keira Walsh<\/a> (Manchester City)<\/p>\n

Forwards:<\/strong>\u00a0Bethany England<\/a> (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp<\/a> (Manchester City), Fran Kirby<\/a> (Chelsea), Ella Toone<\/a> (Manchester United), Ellen White<\/a> (Manchester City)<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>