Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris named in England Women squad for Germany game

Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris have been named in Phil Neville’s England Women squad for their game with Germany on October 27.

Manchester City right-back Bronze missed the last camp in September due to injury, while Bronze’s former Lyon team-mate Parris was unavailable due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

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Millie Turner, Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles and Ella Toone all received their second senior call-ups after impressing in camp last month, with seven uncapped players in total named in the 28-player squad.

Everton’s Izzy Christiansen is also included but midfielder Jordan Nobbs misses out through injury, while Atletico Madrid striker Toni Duggan is not selected.

England play Germany at the Brita Arena in Wiesbaden on October 27 before facing Norway at Bramall Lane on December 1.

The Lionesses will gather at St. George’s Park on October 18, with an in-house training game scheduled for October 23 before the squad travels to Germany.

The matches will help preparations ahead of Euro 2022 on home soil and the Women’s World Cup the following year.

England’s last fixtures were at the SheBelieves Cup in March, which saw them lose to hosts USA and Spain but beat Japan.

Head coach Phil Neville said: “It’s exciting to be facing top-class opposition again after such a long lay-off since the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year.

“Germany are currently ranked second in the world so there’s no doubt it will be a tough test for us, but a vital one, as we measure our progress against one of the best teams in the world.

“It will give us a clear idea of where we’re at in terms of our squad depth and development as we prepare for the home UEFA EURO in 2022. We want to compete for the highest honours in world football and that means challenging ourselves against the very strongest opposition.

“I was impressed with the performances of a number of younger players who joined our senior squad last month and I look forward to seeing their further integration and development during this camp.

“This is an exciting period for England players of all ages and experience to stake their claim for a place in the squad as we build towards upcoming major tournaments.”

Neville targets Germany win at ‘start of Lionesses’ journey’

Neville later spoke of his side being at the “start of a journey” when he addressed the media, but emphasised that victory over Germany remained a priority, despite thoughts already beginning to turn to Euro 2022.

“Even though we’re at the start of our journey, and that’s really important, where we’re building towards the Euros in two years’ time, the expectation level of us all from top to bottom is that we want to go to Germany and win the game,” said Neville, who is leaving his post next year to be replaced by Netherlands boss Sarina Wiegman.

“We expect to go to Germany and compete really well. I thought they were the better team at Wembley, and at the SheBelieves Cup game [a 2-2 draw in 2018], I thought we probably deserved to win that.

“We know they are a really, really top team. They’re ahead of us in terms of their journey at this moment in time.

“But my expectation as a manager is I want us to go to Germany and compete, I want us to put on a performance and I want us to expect to go for the win. That’s not going to change whoever I put out on the pitch.”

As for the inclusion once again of a number of younger players in the squad, Neville added: “Maybe in the last camp it was to expose these younger players to the environment.

“This squad, they have been picked on merit, because they are playing fantastic for their clubs, and because I believe they are good enough to play against Germany.”

Neville also confirmed that midfielder Jill Scott would be guaranteed to win her 150th cap in either the Germany match or the friendly against Norway, which completes England’s fixtures for 2020.

England Squad: Carly Telford, Ellie Roebuck, Sandy MacIver, Hannah Hampton, Steph Houghton, Abbie McManus, Abbie McManus, Millie Bright, Grace Fisk, Millie Turner, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles, Leah Williamson, Jill Scott, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Izzy Christiansen, Georgia Stanway, Fran Kirby, Beth Mead, Rachel Daly, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris, Bethany England, Ellen White.

(c) Sky Sports 2020: Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris named in England Women squad for Germany game