England has received a significant boost ahead of their final Nations League fixtures as Beth Mead makes a return to the squad after being absent for over a year.
Mead’s last inclusion in an England squad dates back to November 2022, but a subsequent ACL injury in the same month forced her to miss the World Cup during the summer.
Although the Lionesses made it to the final without Mead, her comeback is crucial as they strive to top their Nations League group.
Facing the Netherlands at Wembley on Dec. 1 and Scotland at Hampden Park on Dec. 5, England must secure victories in both matches to lead their group.
Additionally, England holds the responsibility for Team GB’s Olympic qualification and needs to reach the Nations League final to ensure participation in Paris 2024.
England head into this batch of fixtures off the back of a 3-2 defeat to Belgium, a performance which Sarina Wiegman described as “sloppy” and “unnecessary.” It was the first time they have conceded three goals under Wiegman in her 43-match tenure.
Mead’s return will come as a huge boost, not least because she was the top scorer in the Lionesses’ triumphant Euro 2022 campaign.
Elsewhere, Grace Clinton and Khiara Keating retain their spots in the squad, having received their first call-ups last time around.
“We know we’ll need to win our last two games of 2023 and we’ll give everything we have for that outcome,” Wiegman said. “This group has shown resilience and strength of character time and time again and I have absolutely no doubts we’ll be ready to go when the whistle blows for both fixtures.
“We always embrace the opportunity to play at Wembley; it’s been home to some of our biggest and happiest occasions. We’ll need the crowd to play their part and continue the incredible backing they’ve shown for the team. They’ve always been there when we needed them and we’ll need them once again.
“An away fixture against Scotland is also an occasion we’ll all look forward to, but we’ll take it one game at a time.”