Chelsea full-back Charles included in Riise’s 24-player England squad

Chelsea defender Niamh Charles has been included in Hege Riise’s 24-player England squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against France and Canada.

The 21-year-old has starred in a new right-back role for her club and her performances have not gone unnoticed by England’s interim head coach Hege Riise.

Charles is one of two uncapped players named in Riise’s squad, Manchester United defender Millie Turner being the other.

Veteran goalkeepers Carly Telford and Karen Bardsley have been recalled to the squad while Manchester City captain Steph Houghton is ruled out through injury and Lyon’s Nikita Parris is again unable to make the squad due to COVID-19 travel restrictions

The England squad will meet up at St George’s Park on Sunday 4 April for a training camp before travelling to Caen to face France at the Stade Michel d’Ornano on Friday 9 April. Riise’s side will then return to St George’s Park in preparation for their home friendly fixture against Canada at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke on Tuesday 13 April.

Next month’s international window offers the players named in Riise’s squad another opportunity to impress ahead of final selection for Team GB in May. Team GB will learn of their group stage opponents at Tokyo 2020 when the draw is made on 21 April.

England Squad

Goalkeepers: Ellie Roebuck, Sandy MacIver, Carly Telford, Karen Bardsley

Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly, Niamh Charles, Leah Williamson, Millie Turner, Millie Bright, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Demi Stokes, Alex Greenwood

Midfielders: Fran Kirby, Georgia Stanway, Jill Scott, Jordan Nobbs, Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly

Forwards: Ella Toone, Beth England, Ellen White, Beth Mead

Source: The Football Association’s official press release

Daniel Pentland

I am the editor and owner of FAWSL Full-Time magazine. I have been reporting on men’s and women’s football at various levels since summer 2015. Some of the events which I have reported from include the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championship, 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, SSE Women’s FA Cup final, Emirates FA Cup final, UEFA Europa League, English Football League and various international matches.

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