Mark Sampson has named his 23 player England squad to take on Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina later this month.

The manager has made a whole host of changes to the squad he took the China last month for a friendly tournament, with his selection then affected by the upcoming WSL Cup final, meaning he took a handful of fringe players to experiment with.

This squad is much stronger though as the Lionesses prepare face the Germans in a friendly next Thursday, 26 November, just months after recording their first ever win over them in the Bronze medal match at this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup.

They then play at home for the first time since April when they take on Bosnia on the Sunday in a Euro 2017 qualifier.

Duggan and Williams return from injury

The two big returning players are Toni Duggan and Fara Williams

Neither were involved in the cup final at the beginning of this month and so could have gone to China, but both were injured and have only just returned to fitness having missed the final stages of the FAWSL season.

England will be boosted by their returns massively too, with both key players and assured starters in the team.

Plenty of changes all over the park

One of the most notable changes to the squad sees Rachael Laws come into the goalkeeping trio, with long standing second choice stopper Siobhan Chamberlain dropping out.

The Arsenal 'keeper has struggled for game time this season, and it appears to have massively affected her chances with England too following this announcement.

Other changes see the experimental players from the China squad make way for more experienced and established names.

Chelsea trio Hannah Blundell, Drew Spence and Laura Coombs all drop out, whilst Birmingham City's Jo Potter, Sunderland's Beth Mead and ex-Gunner Lianne Sanderson do too.

Taking their places are Notts County and Arsenal players who were occupied with their cup final last time the Lionesses were in action - Laura Bassett, Alex Greenwood, Casey Stoney, Amy Turner, Jordan Nobbs, Jess Clarke and Ellen White all coming in.

Turner's inclusion is not one that was perhaps anticipated though, the Notts defender earning herself a place in the squad after a terrific season for her club.

Sampson looking to end the year on a high

Speaking to the FA's website about the upcoming games, Sampson was really excited about both fixtures.

The Germany game, he believes, gives England a chance to prove themselves once more, having done so already at the World Cup. 

The Lionesses fell to a 3-0 defeat at Wembley this time last year to their European rivals, but this fixture will allow them to show how they "have grown as a group" since then and showcase the "stronger mentality" they have "worked on" recently.

As for the Bosnia game, Sampson is particularly looking forward to the fixture as it is to be played in Bristol, where he used to be the manager of Bristol Academy.

The Welshman believes that fans of the women's game in this areas "are some of the best in the country" and he is excited about "the team's homecoming" being held there.

The two games are both significant for different reasons, and Sampson admitted that he is "confident" of the team getting "two positive results" from them to cap off an "amazing" 2015.

Squad in full

Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Rachael Laws (Sunderland), Carly Telford (Notts County).

Defenders: Laura Bassett (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Notts County), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Claire Rafferty (Chelsea), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Casey Stoney (Arsenal), Amy Turner (Notts County).

Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Liverpool).

Forwards: Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Jess Clarke (Notts County), Gemma Davison (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns), Ellen White (Notts County).

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]