England's women's football team has made significant squad adjustments ahead of critical World Cup qualifying matches, with Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone and Arsenal forward Chloe Kelly among those omitted from the 23-player roster. The pair, who have combined for 136 England appearances, will miss the upcoming double-header against Greece next month as manager Sarina Wiegman reshapes her squad with an eye on next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil. Toone's exclusion comes after an inconsistent start to her domestic season, while Kelly, aged 28, has also been deemed surplus to requirements at this stage of qualifying.
Among the other notable absentees are Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and Arsenal defenders Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds. However, the squad announcement brings welcome returns and fresh faces, with captain Leah Williamson back in contention after missing June's fixtures—a 4-0 defeat to Spain and a 3-0 victory over Ukraine. The standout inclusion is 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, who has earned her first senior call-up following an impressive start to the Women's Super League season. Potter has started three of Chelsea's opening four matches and delivered a particularly strong performance in their 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday, catching the attention of selectors while playing alongside established England midfielder Keira Walsh.
Beyond Potter's breakthrough selection, England has also recalled uncapped midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson, an 18-year-old who has impressed since joining North Carolina Courage over the summer. Additional new caps include London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey and Liverpool defender Grace Fisk. Manchester City full-back Niamh Charles makes her return to the squad after recovering from injury, having featured as a substitute in City's 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic on Saturday. These selections suggest Wiegman is balancing experience with emerging talent as England prepares for the crucial Greece tie.
The Lionesses face a defining moment in their World Cup ambitions, with the double-header against Greece determining whether they progress to round two of the qualifying play-offs. England will travel to Crete on Friday, 9 October for the first leg at 17:30 BST, before hosting the return fixture in Leicester on Tuesday, 13 October at 19:30 BST. Victory in both matches will keep alive their hopes of competing in next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil, making these encounters pivotal in the team's pursuit of another major tournament.