Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Nations League - Group A - England v Belgium - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - October 27, 2023 England's Alex Greenwood REUTERS/Molly Darlington
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp returned to the England women's squad for upcoming Nations League games against Portugal and Spain, good news for the Lionesses seven weeks before the European Championship kicks off.
Chelsea forward Lauren James remains sidelined with a hamstring injury in a blow to manager Sarina Wiegman's preparations for England's defence of their Euro title.
Greenwood and Hemp, who both play for Manchester City, and Bayern Munich midfielder Stanway had been considered question marks for the Euros after undergoing knee surgery, Hemp in November, Greenwood in December and Stanway in January.
"They haven't been around for a while but it's really good news that they are back in (the squad)," Wiegman told reporters on Tuesday.
Stanway, who tore the lateral collateral ligament in her knee, is facing a race against time having not played a competitive match since December.
"We still need to build. Georgia is in training. She starts full training and what we hope is that she comes into camp and continues building with us and, hopefully, towards the Euros," Wiegman said. "It's important that she's healthy, that she can handle loads, training loads, and recover from it, and then perform at that level. We have the time to see that."
James, who has scored seven goals for England since her senior debut in 2022, injured her hamstring while playing for England against Belgium in April.
"She wants to go to the Euros and hopefully we can get her fit and ready to go into it," Wiegman said. "She needs to be healthy, be able to train, recover from training and then build a bit. You can't bring in three or four players in that stage (of recovery), but maybe one player who's in that stage."
Wins against Portugal on May 30 at Wembley and against Spain on June 3 in Barcelona would guarantee England a place in the Nations League knockout phase beginning in October.
England drew 1-1 with Portugal in February, and defeated Spain 1-0 six days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Ella Morris, Leah Williamson.
Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Missy Bo Kearns, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh.
Forwards: Michelle Agyemang, Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
