Williamson returns to Lionesses squad after ACL injury

Updated 13/02/2024 at 11:59 GMT

Leah Williamson has been recalled to the Lionesses squad after recovering from an ACL injury. The England captain returned to action for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League earlier this month and will now rejoin the national team. The Lionesses have a warm weather training camp and friendly matches against Austria and Italy scheduled for the end of February.Williamson ‘encouraged to be strongest version’ of herself to empower other women

Leah Williamson has been named in the Lionesses squad for the first time since April 2023.

The England captain and centre-back was forced to miss the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament towards the end of last season.

Manager Sarina Wiegman selected Williamson as part of her 23-player squad for international friendlies against Austria and Italy later this month.

There are few changes from the Lionesses squad which was selected for the culmination of the UEFA Nations League in December.

Manchester City’s Jess Park is back in the squad after last featuring in October, replacing Manchester United’s Katie Zelem.

There is also no space for United’s Nikita Parris, who has scored seven goals in her last six matches for the WSL team.

Chelsea’s Millie Bright, who captained England at the Women’s World Cup in Williamson’s absence, is still unavailable for selection due to a knee injury.

The Lionesses will play Austria at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador on February 23, before coming up against Italy on February 27.

Both matches will be used as preparation for the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, which gets underway in April.

“This camp is where the road to Euro 2025 in Switzerland begins,” Wiegman said. “Playing against strong teams like Austria and Italy is just the preparation we need before we kick off our qualifying campaign in April. I am really looking forward to getting back on the grass with the squad.

“It is the first time we will be back together as a group since last year. Travelling away for this camp will give us a great opportunity to connect again on and off the pitch and allow us to give minutes to many players.

“Being in Spain with hopefully good weather and excellent facilities is the perfect setting for the work we need to do as a team to get us ready for another very important year ahead.”

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