Hemp, Greenwood and Stanway back in major Euros boost for England

The England trio of Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway have all returned to Sarina Wiegman’s squad after lengthy knee injuries, for their upcoming Nations League meetings with Portugal and Spain, in a major boost to the Lionesses’ hopes for this summer’s European Championship.

Wiegman has also given a senior call-up to the Tottenham Hotspur full-back Ella Morris, bolstering her chances of a late surge into the tournament squad for July’s finals, and there is a place in the 27-player list for the Brighton & Hove Albion striker Michelle Agyemang, on loan from Arsenal, who is rewarded for scoring a superb goal just moments into her senior international debut in England’s last match in April.

Agyemang, 19, was originally a late injury replacement into April’s squad midway through that camp but has evidently done enough to impress Wiegman to be retained in the senior setup.

The uncapped Aston Villa midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, a former captain of England’s Under-23 side, has also been recalled by Wiegman. The England head coach has named her squad a week earlier than usual, ahead of 30 May’s home fixture at Wembley against Portugal and 3 June’s away trip to face the world champions Spain. It is the final time England will meet before Wiegman name’s her Euros squad later in June.

Hemp, Greenwood and Stanway suffered knee injuries in November, December and January respectively and the former two returned to action for Manchester City in April but Stanway is yet to play competitively since her treatment began.

“We have the possibility of seeing 27 players in our environment and that’s a real positive,” Wiegman said. “It will give us more good information to make important decisions in the near future. Also naming the squad 12 days before the window begins gives all the players clarity as the season ends for some and carries on for others.”

England’s Euros campaign begins against Group D rivals France in Zurich on 5 July and they will ultimately hope to defend their title in 27 July’s final in Basel.