Beth Mead returns to Lionesses squad for first time since struggling ACL harm

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Beth Mead has returned to the England squad for the primary time in over a 12 months forward of the Lionesses’ crunch Women’s Nations League double-header in opposition to the Netherlands and Scotland.

The information comes 364 days after Mead confirmed she had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) taking part in for Arsenal, an harm which subsequently dominated the Euro 2022 golden boot winner out of this summer time’s World Cup.

The 28-year-old lately revealed she went by way of some “very dark moments” as she handled not solely lacking the World Cup resulting from a long-term harm but additionally the lack of her mum, who died in January after a battle with most cancers.

Mead returned to motion with Arsenal final month however England supervisor Sarina Wiegman mentioned she was not prepared for worldwide choice. However, the ahead has since picked up extra minutes for the Gunners and made her first begin of the season in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Brighton within the Women’s Super League.

Mead’s final look for the Lionesses got here in a 4-0 victory over Japan final November and her return comes at a key time forward of must-win fixtures in opposition to the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday 1 December and Scotland at Hampden Park the next Tuesday.

The Lionesses’ hopes of incomes Team GB a spot at subsequent summer time’s Olympics Games had been dealt a big blow following a shock defeat in Belgium final month, simply the fourth suffered since Wiegman took cost.

It means England path each the Netherlands and Belgium in Nations League Group A, with three factors separating the three sides, leaving the Lionesses requiring victories in opposition to the Dutch and Scotland whereas hoping different outcomes additionally go their approach.

Wiegman has named a 23-player for the clashes in opposition to her former aspect Netherlands and rivals Scotland, with no place for Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck or Manchester City ahead Jess Park, who’s changed by Mead.

Uncapped City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, 19, and Tottenham’s on-loan midfielder Grace Clinton, 20, retain their locations after receiving their first call-ups in October’s squad, as does Euros winner Fran Kirby, who marked her return from a year-long harm absence within the dwelling win in opposition to Belgium.

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, mortgage from Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)

Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)