Lionesses Call-ups and Miss-outs:

Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses squad to take on Greece in the World Cup qualifiers has been released, and there are some big suprises!

Photo Credit: @lionesses

   Photo Credit: @lionesses

Ella Toone is a big name and an experienced Lioness who hasn't been called up for the squad. Having suffered with injury for a large part of last season and with Man United's current results, Toone's form is perhaps being called into question. She's acquired 69 caps for England, and we can only assume that this is a temporary exclusion. The midfielder has performed in the big moments, scoring in the 2022 Euros finals, and so she will want to be back to best form as soon as possible.

Similarly, Chloe Kelly has been excluded, the player who scored the winning goal in the 2022 Euros final. She has been managing a hamstring injury since the start of the season and has only started 2 matches for Arsenal this season. Having acquired no goals or assists yet, Wiegman has decided to exclude both players, exclaiming "the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch".

Consequently, we are getting a first call up for Lexi Potter, with the midfielder having got off to a flying start this season under Sonia Bompastor. Her goal against Birmingham City as well as her composure in midfield alongside Keira Walsh, is a partnership that Wiegman may look to foster in camp and replicate on the international stage. At 20 years old, Potter represents the transition of the squad and its focus on the future talents that can uphold the Lioness legacy.

Although Erica Parkinson was already awarded her first call-up in Wiegman's last camp, her second call-up suggests Weigman also sees her as a young and reliable talent. Only 18 years old and playing overseas in the NWSL, her maturity on the ball has meant she's raced through the youth teams. Maybe this camp will give her a first cap for the squad!

Another call-up that many will be pleased to see is Grace Fisk, the Liverpool defender who has had multiple camps for the Lionesses but not had a cap. However, this season Liverpool have started off strong, and Fisk's brace against Charlton as well as her solid performance in the derby against Everton has secured her a place again in the squad. Given her defensive solidity as well as her attacking threat, perhaps Wiegman will finally give her an opportunity to show her skill for England.

  Photo Credit: @lionesses

   Photo Credit: @lionesses

Other exclusions from the squad include Aggie Beever-Jones, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Taylor Hinds, and Grace Clinton. Beever-Jones' return from injury may be the reason behind her exclusion, having not registered a goal yet this season. Wubben-Moy, Hinds, and Clinton aren't regular starters for Arsenal and Man City, perhaps alluding to their form at club level, calling into question their places in the Lioness squad.

Has Weigman made unexpected choices? Is her courage to leave out these big names a positive indicator that she is putting current results over nostalgic success?