Chloe Kelly has been excluded from Sarina Wiegman’s latest squad for England’s Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain.
The England manager explained that Kelly, despite her talent, has “not played enough” this season to justify her place on the team.
Kelly’s Limited Playing Time and Controversy with Manchester City
Kelly, who has started just one game in the top-flight this season, parted ways with Manchester City under difficult circumstances last month.
She publicly accused the club of trying to “assassinate my character” and spreading “false accusations” after tensions escalated.
Shortly after, Kelly secured a loan move to Arsenal for the remainder of the season, where she will remain until her contract with City expires.
However, Kelly has made it clear that she does not plan on returning to City after her time at Arsenal.
Kelly’s Focus on Earning a Spot for the Euros
In her statement when leaving Manchester City, Kelly emphasized her goal of securing a spot in Wiegman’s squad for the upcoming European Championships.
Wiegman had previously expressed concern about Kelly’s lack of minutes this season.
Kelly, who scored the decisive goal in the 2022 Euros final against Germany, expressed her determination to be in top form for the summer tournament.
“It’s always an honor to represent my country,” she said, adding that the upcoming Euros is a huge opportunity for her.
Wiegman Encourages Kelly to Show Her Worth
Sarina Wiegman, while leaving the door open for Kelly to make the Euros squad, made it clear that Kelly needs to prove herself.
“She hasn’t played enough, in my opinion,” Wiegman stated.
“Start playing and show what you’re about, and then we’ll have that conversation again.”
Wiegman assured that Kelly’s exclusion from the current squad wasn’t permanent, mentioning that they had a productive conversation and would revisit the situation later.
Other Notable Changes to the Squad
The latest squad also sees the return of Chelsea’s Lauren James and Niamh Charles, alongside Brighton’s Nikita Parris, who has received her first call-up since November 2022.
However, key players such as Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, and Lauren Hemp continue to miss out due to injuries.
The squad’s morale is lifted by the return of in-form Ella Toone, who missed the previous camp due to a calf injury.
The Lionesses’ Upcoming Matches
The Lionesses will head to Portugal for their match on Friday, February 21, before returning to Wembley to face Spain on Wednesday, February 26.
The Spain match is set to be a thrilling rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which England lost 1-0.
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