Young Lionesses ready to roar again in February

England’s promising players for the future will be back in action this February with the WU23s, WU19s and WU18s age groups all set for game time.

While the senior side are competing for the Arnold Clark Cup this month, the Young Lionesses will take another vital step in their international development. 

Women’s technical director Kay Cossington said: “Last year was a special one for England teams and we start this year hoping for even more progress across our age groups. 

“Being involved in international football at the development team level gives young players the honour of representing England but also the chance to get valuable experiences. As well as supporting our ambitions with England teams towards the seniors, it is about preparing them for their future careers on and off the pitch.”

Women’s Under-23s

Mo Marley will lead the group for a fixture against Belgium at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park on Monday 20 February (kick-off 7pm), having had a strong finish to their 2022 campaign. 

The year concluded in November with a 0-0 draw against Italy in Rome after a 2-0 defeat of the Netherlands in Walsall. 

The Belgium match will be preceded by a behind-closed-doors encounter with Spain at St. George’s Park on Thursday 16 February.

Women’s Under-23 Squad

Goalkeepers: Kayla Rendell (Southampton), Lucy Thomas (Birmingham City)
Defenders: Asmita Ale (Tottenham Hotspur), Tara Bourne (Birmingham City, on loan from Manchester United), Georgia Eaton-Collins (Leicester City), Jorja Fox (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan from Chelsea), Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), Lucy Parker (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa, on loan from Arsenal), Poppy Pattinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kiera Skeels (Charlton Athletic)
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa), Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool), Grace Clinton (Bristol City, on loan from Manchester United), Mel Filis (West Ham United), Ruby Grant (University of North Carolina), Ruby Mace (Leicester City, on loan from Manchester City), Charlotte Wardlaw (Lewes, on loan from Chelsea)
Forwards: Angela Addison (Charlton Athletic), Aggie Beever-Jones (Everton on loan from Chelsea), Eleanor Dale (University of Nebraska), Missy Goodwin (Leicester City), Emma Harries (Reading), Molly Pike (Leicester)

Women’s Under-19s 

With the UEFA U19 EURO qualifiers resuming in April, the WU19s under Emma Coates will travel to Spain to play two warm-up internationals at La Nucia Stadium in Alicante. 

The trip will begin with a match against Germany on Thursday 16 February (kick-off 5pm GMT) before concluding on Tuesday 21 February against Switzerland (kick-off 1pm GMT). 

England will return to Spain for EURO qualification round two when they will take on the hosts, Slovenia and Belarus for a place at the finals in Belgium this July. 

Women’s Under-19 Squad

Goalkeepers: Faye Kirby (Liverpool), Natalia Negri (Crystal Palace)
Defenders: Grace Gillard (Syracuse University), Naomi Layzell (Bristol City), Lucy Parry (Hibernian, on loan from Liverpool), Hannah Silcock (Liverpool), Jessica Simpson (Manchester United, dual registered with Burnley)
Midfielders: Elysia Boddy (Bristol City), Sarah Brasero (Ipswich Town), Emily Brough (Clemson University), Shauna Guyatt (Crystal Palace), Alex Hennessey (Charlton Athletic), Annie Hutchings (Blackburn, on loan from Manchester City), Freya Jupp (De Paul University), Lucia Kendall (Southampton), Olivia McLoughlin (Birmingham, on loan from Aston Villa), Grace Palmer (Lewes), Monique Robinson (Leicester City), Mackenzie Smith (Leicester City, dual registered with Nottingham Forest), Polly Watson (University of Central Florida)
Forwards: Alyssa Aherne (Manchester United, dual registered with Burnley), Keira Barry (Manchester United, dual registered with Derby County), Mia Enderby (Sheffield United), Freya Godfrey (Arsenal, dual registered with Ipswich Town), Georgia Mullett (Aston Villa)