Sarina Wiegman omits Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from England squad

Squad Selection and Form Over Reputation

Wiegman announced her latest squad ahead of a two-leg tie against Greece on October 9 and October 13 in the opening round of UEFA’s World Cup qualification play-offs. The omissions of Kelly and Toone mark a significant shift for the England coach, who stated that player performances during club matches did not match her expectations.

Wiegman confirmed in a press conference that the decisions were strictly football-related and independent of fitness issues. Kelly’s club coach at Arsenal, Renee Slegers, noted that Kelly had been managing a hamstring issue recently. Despite these physical management steps, Wiegman emphasized that selection criteria remain tied directly to on-field output.

New Faces in Midfield and Attack

The absences of established regulars opened spaces for emerging talent. Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter earned her first senior team call-up following strong performances at the club level, including an appearance against Arsenal. Wiegman praised Potter’s game intelligence and positional understanding, noting that her deeper role at Chelsea allows players like Keira Walsh to push further up the pitch.

Other younger players integrated into the setup include Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall and 18-year-old attacking midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson, who recently moved from Valadares Gaia to the NWSL side North Carolina Courage. Meanwhile, London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey retained her spot in the squad.

Forward Line Adjustments

In the striker position, the absence of Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, who recently recovered from an ankle injury, leaves Alessia Russo as the primary out-and-out forward. Wiegman opted against bringing in additional attacking reinforcements, noting that Lauren Hemp can fill the central role if needed. Michelle Agyemang remains unavailable while recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury.

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