19-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper Khara Keating She received her first senior England call-up for October’s Nations League match against Belgium.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Grace Clinton, who is on loan from Manchester United for the season, was also selected for the first time.
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby returned to the squad after missing the World Cup with a knee injury in February, but Arsenal’s Bez Mead, who made his return in Sunday’s win over Aston Villa, is without a place. ACL injury.
Keira Walsh will return to action after missing September’s Nations League games through injury.
Aston Villa pair Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth and Manchester City midfielder Laura Coombs are out, while Villa’s Lucy Parker has been called up. She has worked as a midfielder for Carla Ward’s team this season but has been called up as a defender in the England squad.
Keating has started all three of Manchester City’s Women’s Super League games this year and particularly impressed in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea in October. She is one of four keepers named by Sarina Wigman, along with City team-mate Ellie Roebuck, Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton and Manchester United’s Mary Earps. Neither Roebuck nor Hampton are in the WSL this season.
“It’s a little complicated,” Wiegman said of her goalie situation. We want players to play. Both (Roebuck and Hampton) have built a little bit of credit with us by being with our team longer and doing well in practice and always showing up.
“I still think they’re the best goaltenders in the country, and I hope they get minutes in the future. That makes it a bit more complicated but I still think they’re the best in the country so I chose them.
Clinton, 20, has made three appearances for Tottenham this season and scored her first WSL goal in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Brighton.
Meade, England’s top scorer in their Euro 2022 campaign, suffered an ACL injury last November and played her first competitive minutes on Sunday after being sidelined. The forward was introduced two minutes from time against Villa at the Emirates and set up Alesia Russo’s winner for Arsenal, but Wigman insists she is not in contention to make the October squad.
“She wasn’t close to be honest,” said the England manager. “She’s in a good place now, she’s nine months old, she’s had her first minutes and she’s very happy. First she has to build club (minutes), she has to perform at her club and get that consistency back and then hopefully she will perform at that level and we have a chance to pick her and she has a chance to compete with the players now in the squad.”
England will host Belgium at the King Power Stadium on October 27 at the Den Dreif Stadium on October 31.
England women’s team
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) Khara Keating (Manchester City) Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Milli Bright (Chelsea) Lucy Bronze (Barcelona) Jess Carter (Chelsea) Niamh Charles (Chelsea) Alex Greenwood (Manchester City) Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City) Lucy Parker (Aston Villa) Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Averages: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Manchester United)Fran Kirby (Chelsea) Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich) Ella Tone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona) Katie Zelem (Manchester United)
in the future Rachel Daly (Aston Villa) Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) Lauren James (Chelsea) Chloe Kelly (Manchester City) Jess Park (Manchester City) Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
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Analysis from women’s football editor Chloe Morgan
It’s hard not to get a little tired of the Lionesses team announcements. There has been little change between the World Cup and the recent Women’s League games, but Sarina Wigman has made a difference this time around.
Fran Kirby is back in international business. Although every WSL team dropped at least one point in their opening three games, Chelsea’s strong start to the season was crucial, ensuring the Blues stayed top of all four and 7th place).
When asked about Base Mead’s absence, Wiegman was direct: “To be honest, she didn’t come close.” It is understandable. Meade came on in the 88th minute for Arsenal’s Aston Villa at the weekend. Despite the winning assist, her injury was not enough to return her to the team, so she only got 15 minutes of WSL action, especially in the highly competitive international youth…
Enter Grace Clinton. The 20-year-old made her debut for the Lionesses. If you haven’t already, watch her 65th-minute screamer against Brighton this weekend as they beat Spurs 3-1 to seal their second win of the season.
Another first call-up Manchester City goalkeeper Kiara Keating Keating has established herself as City’s first choice, edging out WSL stalwart Ellie Roebuck. It will be a rare Lionesses GK partnership for Roebuck, who started 17 of 22 games for City last year. She will have to manage any disappointment at losing her league starting place to Keating.
Goalkeeping coach Darren Ward will have a lot on his hands, picking up four personalities (a wider association than Wigman’s last selection).
(Photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
