Revised England Squad Announced Amid Injuries

omidbasir- Sarina Wiegman is set to announce a significantly altered England squad on Tuesday morning, following the absence of several key players from the Lionesses’ final camp of 2025 and the emergence of injuries to critical team members since then. Notable returns include Hannah Hampton, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, and Lauren James, along with Jess Carter, who was given a break from international duty at the end of last year after a demanding 2025 season for both club and country. Currently, Carter plays in the United States for Gotham, where the NWSL season runs from March to November.

Neither Williamson nor James has represented England since the Euros, making their inclusion in the squad a welcome boost as competitive matches resume. Wiegman will be particularly pleased to reinstate Williamson’s leadership as captain.

However, not all news is positive for the England side. Ella Toone is sidelined due to a hip issue expected to keep her out until late March, while Beth Mead is recovering from a hairline fracture in her shin. Their absences significantly weaken the attacking lineup ahead of two crucial fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland in the first week of March, where the European champions will need to assert their offensive capabilities against teams likely to adopt a defensive strategy.

Defensively, left-back Niamh Charles is unavailable due to injury, complicating matters further, especially in light of Taylor Hinds’ recent setback. Although Hinds has been included in the squad, she has not played since late January. She will have one final opportunity to participate in a match with her club against Bristol City in the FA Cup this weekend. Consequently, Wiegman has opted to look beyond the usual selections for full-back options, offering Poppy Pattinson of the London City Lionesses her first senior call-up. Pattinson has represented England at youth levels up to the Under-23s and may soon make her senior debut, superseding Anouk Denton, who participated in both previous camps following the Euro 2025.

Missy Bo Kearns will also miss out due to injury, limiting midfield choices. Fortunately, her Aston Villa teammate Lucia Kendall has returned to action and will be included in the squad.

**Goalkeepers:** Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa)
**Defenders:** Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
**Midfielders:** Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
**Forwards:** Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

Additionally, there is a significant update in the goalkeeping department. Alongside Hampton’s return, Ellie Roebuck rejoins the squad, having stepped in as an injury replacement for Khiara Keating during England’s last camp of 2025. With 11 caps to her name, Roebuck is the most experienced goalkeeper available to Wiegman after Hampton, despite facing challenges for game time in recent years, including a type of stroke that required a careful recovery.

Recently, Roebuck has gained match experience with Aston Villa, where she signed in the summer, and is now firmly back in the Lionesses squad, replacing Keating, who has made only one appearance for Manchester City since her senior England debut against Brazil in October. Keating is anticipated to gain more playing time in the upcoming weeks, as City’s No.1, Ayaka Yamashita, prepares to compete in the Asian Cup with Japan. For now, however, Keating will not be part of Wiegman’s plans.

England will face Ukraine in Turkey on March 3, followed by a home match against Iceland at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on March 7. As the Lionesses aim to qualify for the World Cup, they find themselves in a challenging group with Spain, where only the group leaders will secure an automatic place in the tournament in Brazil. Thus, it is crucial for the European champions to start strongly and avoid any early setbacks.