Women’s Super League

SARINA WIEGMAN warns there are no guaranteed Lionesses spots after leaving Bethany England and Jordan Nobbs out before this month’s Arnold Clark Cup. And the head coach believes it is “too early” to consider a World Cup campaign without Beth Mead. 
Bethany England is among the notable absentees from Sarina Wiegman’s latest Lionesses squadCredit: PA
Jordan Nobbs, who has 69 senior England caps, has also been left outCredit: Getty
Laura Coombs’ tenacious midfield shifts have seen her called up to England’s camp for the first time since November 2020Credit: Getty
Nobbs, and Tottenham ace England, 28, are the notable top tier stars absent from the Lionesses chief’s 26-strong group.
Nikita Parris, 28, Lucy Staniforth and Hannah Hampton, 22, also missed out. 
However the squad announcement does see Laura Coombs, 32, make her return to the international fold for the first time in just over two years
And Coombs’ call-up comes on a day the Manchester City midfielder signed a new two-year deal with the club. 
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Wiegman’s squad selection comes just over a month after former Blues striker England sealed a Tottenham transfer from Chelsea.
It was a switch that reportedly saw her become the WSL’s most expensive British player. 
The 2019-20 PFA Women’s Player of the Year moved in search of a new challenge and more minutes before this summer’s World Cup. 
Prior to joining Spurs, England had made two starts in eight WSL appearances for the Blues this term.
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Since her transfer she has netted twice in three games across all competitions.
Goals include a clinical finish against her old club during Tottenham’s 3-2 loss to the league title-holders on Sunday. 
And Nobbs and Staniforth, both 30, sealed Aston Villa switches last month which has seen them notch up three starts in the three top-tier games for their new club. 
Matches that saw Villa register one win and two draws including first WSL point against Man City. 
When asked why the trio were not in the squad, Wiegman, 53, said: “They’re competing for selection and  they’re in a good place. 
“They’ve moved to clubs and they’re playing a lot more now, getting settled and that makes it good for competition. 
“But you can’t control what your competitors (for England places) do, or what choice I will make together with my technical staff.
“And that’s the situation they’re in right now. 
“We can at least see now where they are at, how they are improving and what their situation is
“And then we look at how their competitors do and then we make a choice. 
“Yes, it’s good they get minutes, that makes their position better, but that doesn’t guarantee that you’re being selected.
“They have to compete with the others too.”
England, who are the winners of last year’s Arnold Clark, take on the Korea Republic, Italy and Belgium in this year’s contest. 
When asked if it would be difficult for players to make it to the squad if they are not playing at the tournament, Wiegman added: “Everyone has to prove herself.
“But we’re going to try out some things and see some more players that we might not have seen a lot before.
“Everyone has to show consistency in their performances, so it’s not set in stone now.
“But it’s of course a big step forward because we (will have played three games).”
Wiegman’s player picks ahead of the Arnold Clark Cup sees City ace Laura Coombs receive her first national squad call-up since November 2020. 
The selection caps off the Kent-born midfield ace’s resurgence on the pitch. 
The in-form player, who made just six WSL starts last term, has emerged as a first-team regular for Gareth Taylor,
This season Coombs has made 12 starts in the 12 top tier games City have played so far this season. 
Wiegman added: “Laura has shown so much consistency with Man City.
“She’s in midfield but can also play a little higher and a little deeper.
“We need a little more of that balance in midfield.”
The Lionesses will be without the services of Beth Mead when they play the Korea Republic, Italy and Belgium this month.
The Arsenal forward is currently recovering from a knee injury that saw her rupture her anterior cruciate ligament last November. 
And in January, the Gunners star revealed her mother June had “passed away peacefully” after “a long and brave battle against ovarian cancer”. 
Wiegman believes it is too soon to consider a World Cup campaign with the Lionesses without Mead. 
The Lionesses head coach added: “It’s a little early to say, but I don’t want to push it.
“She’s had so many things going on in her life.
“We’ll see you know, how her recovery goes and rehab goes.”
Wiegman’s squad picks sees skipper Leah Williamson make her first international return after missing last November camp due to injury. 
Wiegman believes it is too early to consider a World Cup campaign that does not include Beth Mead as an optionCredit: AP
Goalkeeper Emily Ramsey has been called up for senior Lionesses duty for the first time in her careerCredit: Getty
Fran Kirby, Jess Carter, Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze are also back following their returns to fitness and action at club level.
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And shot stopper Emily Ramsey has been called up for senior England duty for the first time in her career. 
The Man United goalkeeper starlet, on loan at Everton this season, is yet to be capped.  More

EMMA HAYES joked she almost applauded after watching Bethany England and Drew Spence combine to cause Chelsea problems.Despite the Tottenham heroines haunting their old side– with England netting– it was the Blues who came away with a 3-2 win.
Bethany England was on target for Tottenham with her first league goal against her former club after Chelsea took an eighth-minute leadCredit: Getty
Lauren James’ stunning solo effort saw Chelsea restore their lead after England’s 16th-minute levellerCredit: Getty
Hayes praised James’ “outstanding effort” but said the Blues want to be patient with her developmentCredit: Getty
The victory, which included a classy Lauren James strike, saw the visitors return to top spot, with Manchester United held to a scoreless draw by Everton.
However the title-holders had to withstand a late fightback from Rehanne Skinner’s side in the game’s dying stages.
And they sealed another significant win in their push for a fourth consecutive WSL title.
Of England scoring her first goal against Chelsea since her Tottenham move, Hayes said: “I nearly clapped.
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“I’ve seen it thousands of times in training. I’m always proud of former players when they go on (to other clubs). 
“When you have players that used to be part of your team, they’re going to have a point to prove.
“I think our former players played very well and (Mana) Iwabuchi adds a lot of quality to them.
“Beth has brought a lot to that team and for me Drew is unbelievable in their side.
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Hayes jokingly added: “And I hope Rehanne doesn’t mind me saying this – their two best players are Chelsea’s players.  
“On a serious note, I’m happy to see them thriving and I’m happy to see Tottenham are making this progression because Rehanne is a really good coach.
“I’m glad to see that she’s been able to get an upturn in performance from her team.”
Tottenham’s home clash with Hayes’ side came 11 days after the Blues knocked their hosts out of the Conti Cup.
Spurs are yet to pick up a point against Chelsea in the league having lost their six previous encounters. 
But they put in a battling first-half shift against the title holders.
Hayes added: “There’s such a thing as home advantage and they played it to perfection. 
“They knew their pitch, they knew the conditions and I thought they were aggressive
“That’s something I know Rehanne has talked about wanting for her team. 
 “There’s always an expectation of, ‘oh it’s Chelsea, they’ve won lots and they’re going to dominate every week’.
“But everybody else are professionals, everybody else has internationals, we should expect more of other teams.”
Jess Carter opened the scoring for the visitors as they picked up their tenth win in 12 league games this termCredit: Getty
Tottenham found themselves on the back foot in the eighth minute with an unmarked Jess Carter heading home from an Erin Cuthbert cross.
But the visitors were caught cold on the counter eight minutes later.
Some neat trickery from Spence was followed by her setting up England for a tap-in which the striker chose not to celebrate.
The score remained level until the 27th minute.
At that point James drove into the box from the wing with her shot deflected into goal off the post.
And Guro Reiten doubled Chelsea’s advantage, slotting past Tinja-Riikka Korpela in the 64th minute.
With two minutes of normal time remaining Nikola Karczewska nabbed a consolation for Tottenham who face Manchester United next.
Spurs boss Skinner hailed England’s efforts and admitted to being frustrated not to see her side get something from the game.
When asked if England gets enough credit for her clinical displays in attack, Skinner said: “The short answer is no.
“Her stats prove it for themselves. I don’t think she has anything to prove.
“She’s already done what she’s needed to over a number of years.
Rehanne Skinner saysCredit: Getty
“What she really needs is time on the pitch. We see straight away the goals she’s scored in a short space of time.”
On if England should be in contention for a Lionesses spot with the World Cup looming, Skinner added: “If you’re playing well for club you have to be considered for your national team – it’s as simple as that.
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“Obviously she’s going to keep working hard.
“Everything we do here and what comes from that is out of her control she can only control what she’s doing here.” More

ENI ALUKO believes the £1million barrier will soon be broken in the women’s transfer market.The WSL Hall of Fame heroine, 35, was sharing her thoughts last month prior to a dramatic January transfer deadline day. 
Eni Aluko believes bigger transfer fees in the women’s game will help create a competitive economy within the sportCredit: Reuters
Bethany England’s switch to Tottenham is reported to have seen her become the WSL’s most expensive British playerCredit: Getty
A day on which Manchester United reportedly rejected a £500,000 Arsenal bid for Alessia Russo
Today Aluko’s old club Chelsea head to Brisbane Road for a 12:30pm clash with Tottenham.
The game is likely to see former Blues star Bethany England, 28, appear in her first London derby league match in a Spurs shirt.
A moment that would also see the striker make her first top tier appearance against her old side following her switch for a reported fee of £250,000.
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 A figure that has reportedly made her the Women’s Super League’s most expensive British player.
Aluko, who won two WSL titles and two FA Cups during her six-year second spell with Chelsea from 2012 to 2018, said: “In terms of how the transfer window has changed, it’s really the transfer fees.
“You never used to hear of transfer fees before in the women’s game because there was just not the economy for it.
“Clubs didn’t have the money, they didn’t have the budget, so players would just run their contracts down or mutually agree to leave.
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“Now you’ve got the transfer fees, which are not the astronomical amounts you see in the men’s game, but we see with Keira Walsh’s move to Barcelona (from Man City) which was for £400,000.”
In her past roles as director of recruitment for US side Angel City FC and as Aston Villa Women’s first sporting director, Aluko has overseen player transfers.
Talents she recruited for Villa during tenure, from January 2020 to May 2021, include Japan ace Mana Iwabuchi who joined on a short-term deal in December 2020. 
Last month a Fifa report revealed that four of the five biggest women’s football transfers of 2022 involved moves to and from WSL sides
These include Keira Walsh’s world-record breaking switch to Barca last September. 
Aluko, who is supporting the We See You network, a Chelsea-backed campaign, celebrating the achievements of women working in football. added: “Eventually, it will get to the million pound mark at some point.
“Then we’ll start seeing bigger transfer fees. That’s something that is going to really help the game.
“Clubs naturally are quite competitive, so the minute Tottenham buy a player in for £1million, then Chelsea might want to outdo them and buy a player for a higher figure.
“It creates a sort of competitive economy that I think would be really healthy for the women’s game because it is value.
“It’s all value exchange and it’s making sure the money in the game gets circulated and distributed and players get higher salaries, etc.”
Tottenham’s swoop for England was followed by the club signing Iwabuchi on loan from Arsenal on January 18 and Spurs starlet Jessica Naz penning a new two-year deal on Friday.
Today Tottenham boss Rehanne Skinner will aim to get a positive result against Chelsea.
Her side, who are currently eighth and finished fifth in the top tier last term, hope to pick up for their first win in the league this year.
Rehanne Skinner’s side will be hoping to get a result against Chelsea laterCredit: Getty
Tottenham’s clash with Chelsea comes two days after Jessica Naz signed a new two-year deal with the clubCredit: Getty
But they face a tough task with Emma Hayes’ team having won their past six WSL encounters.
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Skinner said: “We’re in a space where we want to try and improve results, not just performances.  
“Going into this, we want to give it everything we possibly can.” More

GARETH TAYLOR hailed Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s “special” header as her tenth WSL goal this term helped Manchester City beat Leicester.Just as it looked as if the Foxes might dent City’s title hunt, Shaw and Chloe Kelly netted to a 2-0 away victory. 
Khadija Shaw opened the scoring in the 60th minute as Manchester City broke through Leicester’s stubborn defenceCredit: Getty
Chloe Kelly doubled the visitors’ lead with her first WSL goal of this seasonCredit: Reuters
Janina Leitzig impressed in goal for Leicester with a string of saves for Willie Kirk’s sideCredit: Reuters
And the encounter saw Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig put in an heroic shift in goal pulling off ten first-half saves.
City chief Taylor said: “We were probably a bit wasteful in the first 20 minutes. The game could have been dead and buried. 
“In saying that their goalkeeper was inspired.
!It was going to take something special to beat the goalkeeper and it was a special goal from Bunny Shaw. 

“It was a great ball in and a really good header from Bunny. 
“If she puts more power into it, she probably misses the target so it was a really class header. Chloe’s (goal) was a great finish as well.”
The result saw Man City go 16 games without a loss with Taylor’s side leapfrogging Arsenal to go third.
They also went a point ahead of the Gunners before their rivals’ Sunday night trip to West Ham.
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And their second finish saw Kelly opening her WSL goals account for this season. 
Taylor added: “Sixteen games unbeaten with two draws in there is some going.
“I think that’s amazing and you have to give full credit to the players
“With Chloe’s goal, we’re really pleased for her, and we want to win. We don’t really care who scores
“We put a big emphasis on Bunny Shaw this season and she has done amazing and the rest of the players will chip in.”
Before the fixture Leicester had lost their previous three duels with City conceding eight times in their last two league encounters. 
But this match was a different story with the hosts coming close to an early lead as Hannah Cain forced a flying sixth-minute save from Ellie Roebuck. 
Sterling defensive work from the well-drilled Foxes side kept the scoreline 0-0 in the first spell.
Ashleigh Plumptre, Sophie Howard, Courtney Nevin and Leitzig all impressive at the rear for the hosts.  
And Leitzig, on loan from Bayern Munich, broke the record for the number of saves in a WSL match. 
Her string of stops included one off her ankle from a close range 15th-minute Shaw effort, as well a stop from a Hemp strike in the 39th minute. 
The second spell saw Laura Coombs enter the fray in place of Deyna Castellanos.
Hannah Cain came close to netting an injury time goal for Leicester CityCredit: Getty
And it was Coombs Cross that Shaw guided home with a looping header to break the deadlock in the 60th minute.
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The visitors doubled their lead 14 minutes after with Kelly firing home with a powerful left-footed strike.
Cain later prompted an injury time save from Roebuck before the final whistle with Leicester facing Liverpool next Sunday. More