Road to France Series squad announced

Phil Neville’s latest Lionesses squad has been announced ahead of the April camp and the first two games of the Road to France series.

Nine City players have made the 25 strong squad with Ellie Roebuck and Jill Scott returning alongside Karen Bardsley, Demi Stokes, Abbie McManus, Steph Houghton, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh and Nikita Parris; the seven players keeping their places from the SBC. Mel Lawley misses out while Reading FC Women midfielder Jade Moore is called up for the first time under Neville following an injury that kept her out for the fist half of this WSL season.

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This squad and the games mark the Lionesses final preparations for this summer’s upcoming WWC, with England first playing Canada at City’s Academy Stadium on April 5th, kick off 7:15 pm and Spain at The Energy Check County Ground, home to Swindon Town FC on April 9th; kick off 7pm. They will then reconvene a month later for 2 games against Denmark at Banks’s Stadium, Walsall FC on 25th May with kick off now at 3pm and New Zealand at the American Express Community Stadium, home to Brighton and Hove Albion on June 1st; kick off at 1pm.

The Young Lionesses have been in action too with City’s own Emma Bradley part of the squad that travelled to Hungary to take part in the second half of the WU17Euro Qualifiers.

Gemma Grainger’s side played three games, beating Georgia a comfortable 8-0 in which Bradley came on for Brighton and Hove Albion RTC keeper Emily Orman at half time, the hosts 3-0 and Greece 2-0; Emma on the bench for the final two games. The side have qualified for the tournament which takes place in Bulgaria between the 5th and 17th May with the draw for the finals being made in Albena on April 5th.

Girls on the Ball

Rehanne Skinner has also named her Young Lionesses squad ahead of the U19 Euro Qualifiers set to take place at St George’s Park next month. City youngsters Esme Morgan, Jess Park and Lauren Hemp are in the team to play Turkey on Wednesday 3rd April, Sweden on Saturday 6th April and Italy on Tuesday 9th April, hoping to finish top of the four team group and qualify for the finals which will take place in Scotland in July.

Shelley Kerr is also ramping up preparations for her Scotland team, naming her squad for 2 friendlies against Chile and Brazil in Spain, the matches taking place on April 5th and April 8th, kick off at 6pm and 7pm, with Jen Beattie, Claire Emslie and Caroline Weir in the squad to fly to Murcia.

Two days after the squad announcement, news followed that the SWNT will play their final WWC preparation match at Hampden Park, against Jamaica on 28th May.

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Canada also face big opposition in their preparation for the tournament and Janine Beckie has been called up to the squad that will take on England at the Academy Stadium.

Tessa Wullaert will also be involved for her country during this international period, although not preparing to play in a WWC, they will face current World Champions the USA in a friendly on April 7th over in LA. The Red Flames start preparations for their WEURO 2021 qualifying campaign, in which they’re joined by Switzerland, Croatia, Romania and Lithuania in Group H, hoping to make it to England in 2 years time when we host the tournament.

Lionesses squad:

Karen Bardsley (Man City), Mary Earps (VfL Wolfsburg), Ellie Roebuck (Man City), Carly Telford (Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (OL), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Man United), Steph Houghton (Man City), Abbie McManus (Man City), Demi Stokes (Man City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jade Moore (Reading), Jill Scott (Man City), Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham), Georgia Stanway (Man City), Keira Walsh (Man City), Karen Carney (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (FC Barcelona), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Man City), Jodie Taylor (Seattle Reign), Chioma Ubogagu (Orlando Pride) and Ellen White (Birmingham)

Young Lionesses squad:

Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), Emily Ramsey (Man United), Niamh Cashin (Rider University), Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida), Naomi Hartley (Sheffield United on loan from Man United), Esme Morgan (Man City), Grace Neville (Millwall Lionesses), Poppy Pattinson (Bristol City), Olivia Smith (University of Oklahoma), Lucy Fitzgerald (Millwall Lionesses), Lauren James (Man United), Aimee Palmer (Man United), Jess Park (Man City), Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), Ella Rutherford (Bristol City), Emily Syme (Yeovil Town), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Jodie Hutton (Aston Villa), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur) and Ebony Salmon (Sheffield United on loan from Man United)

Scotland squad:

Lee Alexander (Glasgow City), Jenna Fife (Hibernian), Shannon Lynn (Vittsjö GIK), Chloe Arthur (Birmingham City), Jen Beattie (Man City), Rachel Corsie (Utah Royals), Nicola Docherty (Glasgow City), Sophie Howard (Reading), Joelle Murray (Hibernian), Kirsty Smith (Man United), Lizzie Arnot (Man United), Leanne Crichton (Glasgow City), Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City), Kim Little (Arsenal), Jo Love (Glasgow City), Christie Murray (Liverpool), Caroline Weir (Man City), Fiona Brown (FC Rosengård), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Claire Emslie (Man City), Lisa Evans (Arsenal), Zoe Ness (Durham) and Jane Ross (West Ham United Women)