Hege Riise names her first Lionesses squad

The Norwegian has named the team who will take on Northern Ireland

Hege Riise names her first Lionesses squad
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
amillington
By Adam Millington

Hege Riise has named her first squad as interim Lionesses head coach.

A smaller team than usual, 20 players will take place in a camp which starts on February 18th at St George's Park before facing Northern Ireland in England's first fixture for nearly a year on the 23rd.

Hannah Hampton, Sandy MacIver, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Ella  Toone could all make their senior international debuts against Northern Ireland.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck, Sandy MacIver.

Defenders: Steph Houghton, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson.

Midfielders: Jill Scott, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway.

Forwards: Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly, Fran Kirby, Beth England, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp.

Missing from the last camp: Karen Bardsley, Carly Telford, Demi Stokes, Abbie McManus, Millie Turner, Grace Fisk, Esme Morgan, Lucy Staniforth, Laura Coombs, Katie Zelem, Niamh Charles, Nikita Parris, Beth Mead, Rinsola Babajide, Lauren James.

What Riise said

The interim head coach spoke of her excitement to lead her first England camp: “I am looking forward to leading my first international camp with England. I have watched a lot of England and club matches and believe this is a  group of players who are capable of winning at a major tournament.  

“My work from now until Sarina Wiegman’s arrival is to develop their ability, playing style and physical conditioning to contribute to future success – this summer and beyond. 

“It is great for the players to have an official fixture to look forward to and is an  opportunity to implement everything they have worked on from previous training  camps.”