Chloe Kelly left out of England squad but Nikita Parris returns after two years | OneFootball

Sarina Wiegman said Chloe Kelly “hasn’t played enough” to warrant a call-up for England’s Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Spain but Nikita Parris has returned for the first time in two years.

Kelly, who scored the winner in the final of the 2022 Euros, has been ­omitted after only starting one game this season for Manchester City, prompting her deadline-day loan to Arsenal in January to keep her Euro 2025 ambitions alive.

The 27-year-old was included in Wiegman’s last squad but withdrew due to concussion protocols after an injury suffered in a 0-0 draw with the USA at Wembley. The manager had previously expressed her “concern” at the forward’s lack of minutes.

“She hasn’t played enough in my opinion,” said Wiegman. “She has moved clubs now but last autumn she hardly played. She had built up some credit but over that time she played so few minutes that she must now get started at Arsenal, get minutes in, start playing, show what she’s about and then we can revisit that again.”

On Kelly’s move Wiegman said: “She was hurt, she was worried about her mental health, I don’t have the full context. I’m just glad she got a move and, as she said, can get a smile back on her face again.”

Parris has scored nine goals in 19 games across all competitions this season after her move from Manchester United to Brighton in the summer in search of regular game time. The 30-year-old, who was also a part of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 winning side has not received an England call-up since November that year, when she started in a 1-1 draw with Norway.

“We always watch a lot of players and I’ve chosen other players in the last two years,” said Wiegman. “But she’s doing well and she’s in good form. She knows what’s needed at international level. I want to see her in our environment and she can take this opportunity.”

The Lionesses play Portugal in the Algarve on 21 February to kickstart their Nations League campaign before they welcome the World Cup holders Spain to Wembley on 26 February.

Lauren James, Ella Toone and Niamh Charles have all returned having previously been unavailable due to injury. The influential ­centre-back Alex Greenwood and the Bayern Munich midfielder ­Georgia Stanway both miss out due to knee injuries while the Manchester United defender Gabby George has been omitted.

Wiegman added: “It is exciting that we have the chance to write a new chapter in our story in the months ahead, especially with the Euro this summer, but we will focus first on what is right in front of us and a very important Nations League campaign. Portugal are getting stronger all the time … we then have another special occasion at Wembley against Spain. I am sure we will get great support and we can’t wait to see our fans again.”

Wiegman also expressed her ­support for Khadija Shaw after the Manchester City forward ­suffered ­racist and misogynistic abuse ­following a 4-3 loss to Arsenal in the WSL. “I stand with her too, with ­everyone who has had abuse, or ­racism, which is what we’re ­talking about here,” said Wiegman. “It’s absolutely unacceptable, and yes, we need to do more about it. It’s a concern.”

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