Lauren Hemp has rejoined the England squad after recovering from an ankle injury. This marks her first appearance since the Euro 2025 tournament. In contrast, Lauren James has not been included in the squad.
The 25-year-old Hemp, who plays for Manchester City, missed two months of action but made a successful return in recent matches against Everton and Manchester United. Meanwhile, James, aged 24, had recently returned as a substitute during Chelsea’s victories against St Polten and Liverpool. However, she has yet to start a match this season due to an ankle injury sustained in the Euro 2025 final against Spain, which sidelined her for four months.
Upcoming Matches and Squad Details
England’s Lionesses manager, Sarina Wiegman, has announced a 25-player squad for upcoming friendlies against China on 29 November and Ghana on 2 December. Notable inclusions in the squad are:
- Anouk Denton – The uncapped West Ham defender makes a return after being named in last month’s squad.
- Freya Godfrey – The London City Lionesses forward receives her first senior call-up following strong performances in the Women’s Super League.
- Grace Clinton – The Manchester City midfielder is back after a minor injury that caused her to miss previous matches.
Player Absences
Several key players are absent from the upcoming matches:
- Jess Carter – Gotham FC defender is given time to recover from the NWSL play-offs.
- Hannah Hampton – Chelsea goalkeeper misses out due to a thigh injury and controversy surrounding her performance.
- Michelle Agyemang – The 19-year-old Euros star is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
- Leah Williamson – The captain is also out due to knee issues.
- Alex Greenwood – The Manchester City player is absent with a knee injury.
- Katie Reid – The Arsenal youngster misses out after sustaining an ACL injury despite receiving her first senior call-up last month.
With Hemp’s return and James’s absence, the England squad is set for a crucial series of friendlies as they prepare for future competitions.
