Arsenal Women's defender Leah Williamson has been recalled to the England Women's squad for the first time since suffering her devastating ACL injury last year.
Sarina Wiegman's team kick off 2024 with a pair of friendlies against Austria (February 23) and Italy (February 27) during a training camp in Spain, marking their first fixtures since December's 6-0 Nations League crushing of Scotland.
Since that emphatic victory - which ultimately did not prove enough for the Lionesses to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics - Williamson has made her long-awaited return to action since joining the list of high-profile ACL victims in the women's game last April.
Williamson's severe injury crushed her dreams of representing England at the 2023 World Cup, but the Euro 2022 winner made her domestic comeback in January, coming off the bench in a Women's League Cup beating of Reading.
The 26-year-old - who last played for her country in the 2023 Finalissima win over Brazil - subsequently played 45 minutes of a 2-1 Women's Super League loss to West Ham United two weekends ago, before wearing the captain's armband in Sunday's FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, playing 75 minutes of that tie.
"We've seen she is a very good player, even though she's been out for months her decision making is very good. It's really nice to have her back," Wiegman told reporters at a press conference after naming a 23-strong squad.
😍 @leahcwilliamson returns to the #Lionesses squad! pic.twitter.com/0bhdy4hNXy
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 13, 2024
As well as Williamson, there is also a recall for 22-year-old Manchester City Women's midfielder Jess Park, who made four appearances for England last year and was most recently included in Wiegman's selection in October.
However, injury-plagued Chelsea Women's defender Millie Bright is nowhere to be seen, having sat out the last three months with a knee injury, which forced her to withdraw from the last Nations League squad.
"This camp is where the road to EURO 2025 in Switzerland begins. 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," Wiegman told the official England website.
"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."
Following February's pair of friendlies, England will learn their opponents for Euro 2025 qualification when the draw takes place on March 5.
ENGLAND WOMEN'S SQUAD IN FULL
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)
Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Ben Knapton
