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      Kelly hopes for another winning Wembley moment and says England’s stars will step up after captain Williamson’s injury

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      CHLOE KELLY admits it is a “bit mad” being spotted by eager fans on the streets following her Euros final goalscoring heroics.The winger says England’s other leading figures can fill the gap left by Leah Williamson after injury forced the captain to withdraw from the squad.
      Chloe Kelly could be in line to feature for England against the USA at Wembley on FridayCredit: PA
      Kelly, who returned to international duty after missing England’s September games, is staying grounded in terms of talk of the team winning next year’s World Cup.
      The forward, 24, could be in line for an appearance this Friday with the team facing the USA at Wembley followed by a duel with the Czech Republic at the Amex on Tuesday.
      The Wembley fixture could see Kelly get some international minutes for the first time since scoring the winner that led to a Euros trophy win for the Lionesses.
      Of her encounter with supporters on the streets since that triumph, Kelly said: “I am just a normal girl and to be noticed in the street a little bit more is a bit crazy.
      “One day I was going to meet the girls at Manchester City and a car pulled up of loads of girls and started shouting my name.
      “So, I am there waving, thinking it was the City girls, and then I was like – I don’t know any of these people!
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      “I was just walking down to the city of Manchester, and I was like, wait, this is weird.
      “I am enjoying the moment, but it is about performing on the pitch.
      “I want to improve and keep learning because once you taste the winning feeling, it just makes it even more exciting to win more.
      “Of course, the goal (at Wembley in the Euros) will always stick in people’s minds.
      “I want to be living that moment for the rest of my life, but also many of these good moments as well (in the future).
      “I think it just makes me excited to learn and be better.”
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      On Friday Sarina Wiegman’s side will pit their wits against a US team ranked the No.1 in the world
      Like the Lionesses, Vlatko Andonovski’s stars are regarded as being among the favourites to win the World Cup next year.
      Since March 2017 England have triumphed once in their last five duels with their opponents registering three wins and a draw.
      The USA’s victories include a semi-final knockout of Lionesses at the 2019 World Cup and a 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win in March 2020 during former England boss Phil Neville’s tenure.
      On the threat, the USA will pose to England, Kelly added: “All oppositions bring a different challenge, and we have to be ready for the challenge, but we have so much quality in our squad.
      The Lionesses’ clash with the USA will see the team test themselves against one of the favourites to win the 2023 World CupCredit: Getty
      “I’m excited to see everyone out there again, but it’s not about getting carried away.
      “There are so many months until the tournament next summer.
      “It’s about learning in these moments and really learning as the year goes on and peaking when it matters.
      The Lionesses will face their opponents without the services of Williamson, 25, with the England defender sustaining an injury during a training session on Tuesday.
      England will face the USA without captain Leah Williamson with the centre-back returning to Arsenal after sustaining an injury in trainingCredit: Reuters
      Kelly added: “Leah’s a great leader and of course, we’ll miss her.
      “We have such great depth in our squad and such great strength in our squad.
      “There are so many great leaders with experience so it’s all about coming together in these moments when you do lose a player like her.” More

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      Arsenal and Chelsea handed tough Champions Leagues group stage duels against Lyon and Real Madrid

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      ARSENAL and Chelsea are set for tricky Champions League group phase clashes against some of Europe’s most formidable sides.The rivals have been drawn in what some fans have dubbed groups of death with the Blues facing Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain and the Gunners taking on Lyon and Juventus.
      Juventus and Lyon are among the teams Arsenal will battle for a place knockout stage of this season’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Chelsea will be vying with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid for top spot in Group ACredit: PA
      Caroline Weir and her Real Madrid team-mates are currently third in Spain’s top tierCredit: Getty
      Chelsea, who are in Group A, are set for ties against French giants PSG and a Madrid side that includes former Manchester City forward Caroline Weir.
      This will be the second time in the space of three months that Madrid have come up against one of England’s top sides following their defeat of Manchester City.
      That August clash saw Weir net the winner that sealed City’s exit from the contest at the qualifying stage for a second successive season.
      The Blues, who reached the finals in 2021, will also take on PSG who finished the runners-up in France’s top-flight last term.
      The last Champions League clash between the sides was back in the quarter-final stage of the contest in March 2019.

      And Emma Hayes’s aces emerged the victors of that tie (with a 3-2 aggregate score line) knocking their rivals out to reach the semis phase.
      They will also face Albanian side KS Vllaznia, who reached the group stage for the first time in their history this season.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal are set for a reunion with former boss Joe Montemurro with the WSL leaders drawn into the same group as Juventus.
      It will also see Gunners’ summer signing Lina Hurtig go up against the Italian side she helped to reach the last eight of the contest last term.
      And Jonas Eidevall’s stars, who will play their Group C home fixtures at the Emirates, will also face a stern test home and away against Lyon.
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      The French giants currently hold the record for the highest number of Champions League trophy wins having won the tournament eight times.
      Meanwhile, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been drawn in Group D alongside Swedish side Rosengard and Portuguese club Benfica.
      Duels between the Catalan giants and the runners-up to last year’s Bundesliga title could see Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze go up against their former Man City team-mate Georgia Stanway.
      Former Arsenal chief Joe Montemurro is set for a Champions League reunion with the GunnersCredit: GettyWomen’s Champions League – Group Stage Teams

      Group A
      Chelsea
      Paris Saint-Germain
      Real Madrid
      KS Vllaznia
      Group B
      Wolfsburg
      Slavia Praha
      SKN St. Polten
      Roma
      Group C
      Wolfsburg
      Slavia Praha
      SKN St. Polten
      Roma
      Group D
      Barcelona
      Bayern Munich
      Rosengard
      Benfica More

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      Leat’s shootout saves help Aston Villa seal win in Conti Cup clash with Manchester United

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      ANNA LEAT’s spot-kick heroics helped Aston Villa beat Manchester United on penalties in the Continental Cup group stages.A Rachel Daly header saw Carla Ward’s side fight back from 1-0 down before nabbing a 4-3 on win pens in their Group A opener.
      Nikita Parris’s thumping shot gave Manchester United a first-half lead against Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
      Rachel Daly levelled the game for the hosts in the 72nd minuteCredit: Reuters
      The Villa shot-stopper kept out pens from Hayley Ladd and Ona Batlle before Maz Pacheco buried the winner from the spot.
      This afternoon Marc Skinner made nine changes to the starting 11 that beat West Ham last Sunday with Ona Batlle chosen as captain.
      Sophie Baggaley started in goal with Adriana Leon, Jade Moore and Nikita Parris among the outfield Red Devils aces facing Villa away from home.
      Parris gave the visitors a 16th-minute lead at Bescot Stadium with her first Red Devils goal – a well-struck shot beyond the palms of Leat.
      However, Villa battled back with Daly heading home a leveller for the hosts following a late second-half free kick from Kenza Dali.
      The game headed into penalties with both sides level-pegging after normal time.
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      While Baggaley kept out three pens, Leat denied the visitors twice from the spot in addition to misses from Ella Toone and Hannah Blundell.
      The 1-1 draw in normal time saw both teams pick up a point in Group A with Villa notching an extra for winning the penalty shootout.
      And Ward’s side will visit Everton on October 26 for their second League Cup group game with United heading to Maiden Castle Sports Park for a duel with Durham.
      Meanwhile, Kelly Chambers is looking for “a mentality shift” from her Reading aces with the Royals boss targeting a good run in the Conti Cup.
      The club face Tottenham at home on Sunday in their opening group stage game with the team targeting their first win across all competitions this term.
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      And they hope to progress to the knockout stages after being eliminated during the group phase last season.
      Chambers, 36, told reporters: We had a really good run, but we tailed off in the second half of last season.
      “We want to keep consistency, keeping consistency in the performance, results to allow us to be better than we were last year.
      “There’s no hiding from the fact that we are probably the smallest club in the league with the smallest budget, but I think we’ve got good quality to compete in this league.
      “We want a good cup run and there is no reason why we can’t, it is just making sure that we shift the mentality.”
      Kelly Chambers is confident of Reading’s chances of going a good run in the Conti CupCredit: Getty More

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      Jorge Vilda says fallout with Spain players is a ‘difficult situation’ after leaving several stars out of national squad

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      JORGE VILDA left several Spain Women aces out of his squad ahead of the team’s friendly duels with Sweden and the USA in October.Skipper Irene Paredes and record scorer Jenni Hermoso are among the stars omitted as well as Manchester United duo Ona Batlle and Lucia Garcia.
      Jorge Vilda says the fallout between himself and a number of players is “hurting Spanish football”Credit: Getty
      Irene Paredes is among the senior figures who have been left out Spain’s squad ahead of two friendly fixtures in OctoberCredit: Getty
      Man City stars Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri have also been dropped.
      And Paredes’ Barcelona team-mates Aitana Bonmati, Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Sandra Panos are among the others cut from the group.
      The omission of the stars – many of whom featured for Spain at this summer’s Euros – follows a dispute between the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Vilda and several squad members.
      The group have expressed their preference to not be called up for international duty until there is a commitment “to a professional project”.

      At a press conference today, Vilda, 41, said “I don’t wish for anybody to go through what I am going through these days.
      “I am deeply hurt, it’s an unfair situation that nobody deserves. I think it’s a ridicule on a global scale.
      “This mess is hurting Spanish football. It’s a worldwide embarrassment.
      “I would like them to say face to face why they have made that decision and why they disagree.”
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      Local media in Spain report players as being unhappy with how injuries are managed and with training methods and Vilda’s team selection.
      Earlier this month the Spanish Football Federation claimed they received 15 emails from stars threatening to quit the international side unless Vilda was sacked.
      In their written statement the Federation also claimed players flagged concerns regarding their “emotional state and health”.
      However, these claims were denied by the players – including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas – who was not part of the group who sent emails.  
      Last Friday the midfield star published a joint statement via her Twitter account in response to the Federation.
      In it, she slammed their decision to make a private statement “public, in a partial and self-interested way”.
      Ona Batlle is among the players who have been left out of Spain’s squad ahead of games against Sweden and the USACredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Spain, who were beaten by England in the quarter-finals of this year’s Euros, finished top of their World Cup qualifying group with eight wins from eight games.
      They go into their duels with Sweden and the USA with six uncapped players.
      The team will face Sweden on October 7 in Cordoba before a clash with the United States in Pamplona four days later.
      And Vilda insists he has not thought about quitting his role despite the fallout with a number of his country’s top pros.
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      The head coach added: “I have to call up the players who want to be here 100%.
      “In no moment (did I consider resigning). It would be unfair, for what we created in the past and are in the present.” More

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      West Bromwich Albion Women change colour of home shorts from white to navy to aid players during their periods

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      WEST BROM WOMEN have opted to change the colour of the shorts they wear with their home shirts to accommodate players’ menstruation cycles.The decision comes months after the Lionesses flagged similar concerns with kit makers Nike in the run-up to their Euros triumph.
      West Bromwich Albion Women will wear navy shorts with their home shirts for the rest of this season and beyond
      The club’s choice for players to don navy shorts instead of white ones, for the rest of this season and beyond, was made after a “full consultation” with the squad.
      It comes in a year which has seen discussions across a number of sports around the challenges for female athletes wearing white outfits during their periods.
      West Brom captain Hannah George, 27, whose team play Brighouse Town this Sunday said: “It’s great that the club are supporting our change to navy shorts. 
      “Representing the club professionally and looking smart in the kit is really important to us.
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      “This change will help us to focus on our performance without added concerns or anxiety.”
      Head Coach, Jenny Sugarman, whose side competes in the third tier, added: “It’s our job as staff to find every percentage point we can to support our players to perform at their best. 
      “I’m proud the club have supported the decision to switch to navy shorts for our female players.
      “It’s another sign of the continued integration of the women’s team across the club and recognition of a progressive and inclusive culture.”
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      The issue of female athletes being obliged to wear white gear during their periods has been an ongoing topic across a variety of sports.
      In July, Arsenal ace Beth Mead said the Lionesses shared their thoughts with Nike regarding the practicality of donning white shorts during their menstrual cycles
      Players had discussed the possibility of a colour change.
      And in June female tennis stars queried the All England Club’s regulation of all-white wear for women competing at Wimbledon during their periods.
      Two-time doubles winner Rennae Stubbs highlighted some of the challenges facing players wearing light-coloured sports gear during these moments.
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      The 2001 and 2004 Wimbledon doubles champion told Telegraph Sport: “At Wimbledon, you’re very cognizant of making sure that everything’s ‘good to go’ the moment you walk on the court – making sure that you have a tampon.
      “A lot of women have pads on top of that or making sure you have an extra-large tampon before you go on court.”
      England Women’s players shared their feedback with Nike in regard to a change to the colour of their shortsCredit: Getty More

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      Ajax 0 Arsenal 1 (Agg 2-3): Miedema nets to send Gunners through to Champions League group stages

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      VIVIANNE MIEDEMA struck as Arsenal dispatched Ajax on a rain-sodden Champions League night in the Netherlands.The Dutch hotshot netted with the Gunners clinching a 1-0 away victory to book their group stage place. 
      Vivianne Miedema was on target against Ajax with her third goal of the season across all competitions for ArsenalCredit: EPA
      The Gunners will compete in the group stages of the Champions League following their round two defeat of AjaxCredit: Getty
      The round two second leg result saw Arsenal win 3-2 on aggregate this evening.
      But the visitors suffered injury scares with Rafaelle Souza crocked and Beth Mead subbed off after a nasty-looking blow to her head.
      Last Tuesday saw the Gunners frustrated by their battling Dutch opponents who caught them cold with a late goal.
      But tonight’s match – played on the outskirts of Amsterdam – was a different story as Jonas Eidevall’s side put that result to bed with a battling display. 
      The visitors began positively with the hosts intervening to snuff a second-minute break for the box
      But then Ajax made their presence felt going forward with Ashleigh Weerden jetting down the left, but unable to find a team-mate with her tenth-minute cross.
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      Moments later a dangerous through-ball found Romee Leuchter before Leah Williamson snuffed out the threat.
      Arsenal tested keeper Lize Kop in the 19th minute before a defence-splitting Katie McCabe pass almost found Wienroither in the box six minutes later.
      A dodgy back pass from Steph Catley almost caught Manuela Zinsberger out of position shortly before a Blackstenius shot in the 36th minute
      Eidevall was forced to shuffle his deck with Rafaelle limping off following an earlier kick from Chastity Grant.
      And Miedema fired a shot over the crossbar close to half-time
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      The Gunners striker bagged her third goal of the season, across all competitions, burying a bottom corner strike in the 51st minute.
      Later Mead entered the fray for the visitors shortly after Tiny Hoekstra was subbed on for Ajax with 25 minutes of normal time left.
      And Hoekstra came dangerously close to sliding in a leveller before a nasty clash of heads between Mead and Nadine Doordam saw the latter cautioned.
      Mead was later forced to come off after feeling the effects of the blow to her head in the closing minutes.
      The visitors held out to join Chelsea in the Champions League groups stages.
      Beth Mead was forced to come off late in the game after Nadine Noordam clashed heads with the forwardCredit: Getty More

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      Eidevall to take momentum from Arsenal’s North London derby win into a tough battle with Ajax

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      JONAS EIDEVALL is under no illusion about the hard task awaiting Arsenal in their battle with Ajax for a Champions League group stage spot.The Gunners are targeting an away win against their opponents who frustrated the WSL leaders by clinching a Round Two first-leg draw.
      A win for Arsenal against Ajax will see them join Chelsea in the Champions League group stageCredit: Getty
      Arsenal go into the game, which kicks off at 6:00 pm tonight, off the back of a 4-0 win against Tottenham watched by a record WSL crowd of 47,367 at the Emirates.
      And they will play in front of a record crowd at the De Toekomst Stadium home of their rivals this evening.
      Victory over Ajax will see the Gunners play their Champions League group stage games at the Emirates.
      Arsenal head coach Eidevall, 39, who has a fully fit squad for the game, said: “Of course, we want to play in the group stage and we want to go as far as possible.
      “This is the game we need to win in order to get there.
      “In the Champions League it’s about playing against the best. It’s about being challenged.
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      “And it’s nice the club want to play at the best stadium – the Emirates. We will do our very best in order to go through.
      “We can take a lot of energy and positive momentum from our win against Tottenham.”
      On whether Ajax will be buoyed by the draw by their impressive display last time out, Eidevall added: “I thought they played with a lot of confidence last week.
      “I’m under no illusion that this game will be anything else.
      “It will be a hard game. Away matches in Europe are tough when we’re playing a good team like Ajax.
      “We will need to defend well, attack well and be good at set pieces and in transition.
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      “It’s up to us to be the best that we can possibly be. I believe we can go through.”
      Having reached the contest’s quarter-final stage last term before being knocked out by Wolfsburg Eidevall’s side hope to progress further this season.
      And the club remains the only English side to have won the Women’s Champions League with their 2007 triumph.
      Since then, the contest has been dominated by Europe’s other giants with French side Lyon having won the tournament eight times, including their 3-1 triumph over Barcelona in May.
      Chelsea became the first English side to reach the final in 14 years when they took on Catalan giants Barca in May last year.
      The overall winner of this term’s Champions League is set to receive £301,000 in prize money with the runners-up awarded £172,000.
      Jonas Eidevall is confident Arsenal will be able to defeat Ajax away from homeCredit: Getty
      Match victories for teams in the group stage is thought to earn sides £43,000.
      On whether he feels constant pressure on Arsenal from a financial perspective, Eidevall added: “I don’t spend much time thinking about other things and I don’t think I should do either.
      “I went into this game preparing to get the best possibilities to win and I don’t think about anything else.” More

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      England boss Wiegman says ‘door is still open’ for Steph Houghton and recalls Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly

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      SARINA WIEGMAN says the “door is still open” for Steph Houghton with players vying for England spots before next summer’s World Cup.The Lionesses chief had “hard choices” to make with three Euros winners left out of her group before a sell-out Wembley clash with the USA.
      Sarina Wiegman intends to meet with Steph Houghton at the end of October to see “where things are at”Credit: Getty
      Fran Kirby is back in the Lionesses squad after a making comeback from injuryCredit: Getty
      Chloe Kelly has also been recalled for England duty ahead of the team’s games against the USA and the Czech Republic in OctoberCredit: Getty
      Wiegman was speaking after Houghton, 34, shared her thoughts on being dropped from the squad that went on to become European Champions in July.
      The England head coach, 52, said: “I’ve had a conversation with her again and I don’t think she’s quite ready.
      “We wanted to bring in some young players but it’s ten months still to go until the World Cup.

      “The door is still open, and I will meet her again at the end of October and see where we’re at, at that moment.”
      Chelsea and Manchester City stars, Fran Kirby, 29, and Chloe Kelly, 24, are back in the 24-strong squad following their return to WSL action from injury.
      Esme Morgan is back for the first time since a call-up last September, with the Man City defender missing England’s camp that month due to a shin injury.
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      But Jordan Nobbs, 29, and Euros-winning trio Beth England, 28, Nikita Parris, 28, and Lotte-Wubben Moy, 23, have been left out ahead of a tough test against the USA.
      Wiegman added: “Picking players is all about performance and what we see is there is a big competition and the depth in the squad is really good. 
      “It’s hard to make choices so I had conversations with all the players who were in the squad before, but are not now.
      “I gave them some feedback and now they have to work and try to fight their way back in.
      “Of course, we’ll keep following them because they are very good players.
      “It’s not just that we’ll follow 22 or 24 players, we’ll follow a big group of players and pick the best ones.”
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      England – currently ranked the fourth-best side in the world – take on four-time World Cup winners the United States at Wembley on Friday 7 October.
      They will then play the Czech Republic at the Amex four days later.
      The team are currently unbeaten under Wiegman having gone 20 games without a loss across all competitions winning 18 matches and drawing twice.
      The last clash between the USA and England saw the Lionesses, then managed by Phil Neville, beaten 2-0 at the SheBelieves Cup in March 2020.
      On if her players have anything to fear from their US opponents, Wiegman added: “With the development of the team, we have shown courage and really played with that to win and not to prevent mistakes.
      Lucy Parker has received her first senior call-up for Lionesses dutyCredit: Getty
      “We want to do that all the time and that is what we tell the players too.
      “Germany and Spain were big opponents too so we will approach it the same way – play to win, accept mistakes and hopefully play our style on the pitch.”
      Ahead of the October games, Wiegman has given a first-time senior call-up to defender Lucy Parker, 23, who has impressed for Paul Konchesky’s West Ham.
      Jess Park, 20, was also named in England’s senior squad after winning praise for her Everton performances following a loan move from Man City.
      Jess Park has been named in the 24-strong Lionesses squad after impressing on loan at Everton from Man CityCredit: Getty
      Wiegman added: “Lucy Parker is very athletic. She has had some injuries but has had good preparation and good games.
      “It will be good to see what they can do compared to some more experienced players.
      “It’s ten months until the World Cup starts, it’s also an opportunity to bring through some young players to see where they are at.”
      England Women’s Squad
      Goalkeepers:
      Mary Earps (Manchester United), Sandy MacIver (Manchester City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
      Defenders:
      Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lucy Parker (West Ham United), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
      Midfielders:
      Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jessica Park (Everton, loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)
      Forwards:
      Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ebony Salmon (Houston Dash). More