Chelsea's Millie Bright returns to the Lionesses for the first time since October 2023 in Sarina Wiegman's 28-player squad for England's UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifiers this summer.

Bright captained England during the 2023 Women's World Cup in the absence of longstanding captain Leah Williamson. Bright suffered a knee injury four months prior to the tournament but recovered in time to play every game for the Lionesses. She aggravated the same knee injury in November, leaving her absent from the England side since.

The 30-year-old made her return off the bench for Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. She made her first start in the west London side's 4-3 loss to Liverpool on May 1.

"It seems like a long time," Wiegman said of Bright's return at a news conference on Tuesday. "I'm very happy, she's very happy, started playing again after a long period of injury and rehab. She has two more games so that's good to see too, then she'll come into camp and I'm very happy and so is she and it's really good for the team.

"Of course, we always hoped she'd be back earlier, but she needed some more time, and I'm just really happy now this is the moment she can come in."

Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones also earned her first call-up after linking up with the senior squad in February's training camp in Marbella. She has scored 11 goals in 15 games in the Women's Super League (WSL) this season.

"Aggie has had a great improvement; she developed so well. She's just doing really well," Wiegman said.

"She's an open person; she really wants to develop every single day on the pitch. When we had our Feb. camp, she did well there, too. I'm just hoping she comes in and goes out on the pitch and players. She can play on the side, she can play in the centre, and I'm just looking forward to it."

The squad will be initially formed of 24 players, with four more on standby, to prepare for the first of two back-to-back international windows in June and July.

Manchester United's Maya Le Tissier, Liverpool's Missy Bo Kearns, Tottenham's Jessica Naz and Southampton's Kayla Rendell are among those named on the standby list.

The Lionesses face France in Newcastle on May 31, before travelling to Saint-Étienne for the return fixture on June 4. All 28 players will report to St. George's Park on May 27. England then face their final two games after a gap in July, playing the Republic of Ireland in Norwich on July 12 and Sweden on July 16.

The squad for the final two group matches in July will also be formed from the group of 28 players named today. Following the conclusion of the May/June window, players will have a period of rest and recuperation before a three-day training camp at St. George's Park between June 19-21.

During this time, players are permitted to go on holiday, but Wiegman would prefer for her players to remain closer to home.

"I think it's very good to have a proper rest. We can't give any longer because we have to compete in July. My preference would be to stay in Europe and not go to the other side of the world," Wiegman said.

"I want them to come in fit and fresh and be ready to start training," she added. "I think they'll make the right decisions,"

The players will then gather at St. George's Park for a five-day preparation camp between June 24-28. The preparation phase concludes with a final camp in the Netherlands from July 1-5, which will also involve a behind-closed-doors training fixture against the Netherlands.

The 28 players will join at different stages of this preparation phase based on their club programme.

England Squad

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating

Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Millie Turner, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy

Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo

Standby: Maya Le Tissier, Missy-Bo Kearns, Jessica Naz, Kayla Rendell

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Emily Keogh

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