Beth Mead is BACK in the England squad for the first time since rupturing her ACL a year ago - as Sarina Wiegman names her squad for next month's must-win Nations League games

1 year ago 51

Mead suffered a tear of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November 2022
Lionesses face the Netherlands and Scotland in the Nations League next month
Trent and Bellingham can play together but can't get in each other’s way - IAKO

By Kathryn Batte For Mailonline

Published: 11:15 GMT, 21 November 2023 | Updated: 11:36 GMT, 21 November 2023

Beth Mead has been re-called to the England squad for the first time in a year ahead of next month’s must-win Nations League fixtures.

Mead suffered a tear of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November 2022 but returned to action last month and made her first start for Arsenal in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Brighton.

Wiegman had opted against re-calling Mead for October’s double header with Belgium, with the Lionesses boss believing the forward needed more game time.

But with England needing to beat both the Netherlands and Scotland to have any chance of qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games, Wiegman has brought the Euro 2022 golden boot winner back into the fold.

Mead’s last cap for England came in a 4-0 victory over Japan on November 11 last year, shortly before she suffered the season-ending knee injury.

Arsenal star Beth Mead has been re-called to the England squad for the first time in a year

Mead suffered a tear of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November 2022

The injury saw Mead miss this summer's World Cup, which England finished as runners-up

ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL

England squad to face the Netherlands and Scotland in next month's Nations League double-header:

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)

Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

Wiegman said: ‘We know we’ll need to win our last two games of 2023 and we’ll give everything we have for that outcome.

‘This group have shown resilience and strength of character time and time again and I have absolutely no doubts we’ll be ready to go when the whistle blows for both fixtures.

‘We always embrace the opportunity to play at Wembley, it’s been home to some of our biggest and happiest occasions.

'We’ll need the crowd to play their part and continue the incredible backing they’ve shown for the team.

Sarina Wiegman names her squad for next month's must-win Nations League games

'They’ve always been there when we need them and we’ll need them once again.

‘An away fixture against Scotland is also an occasion we’ll all look forward to, but we’ll take it one game at a time.’

Elsewhere, Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has dropped out of the squad after failing to start a game in the Women’s Super League this season.