Everton defender Gabby George has been called up to the England squad for their Women’s World Cup qualifier with North Macedonia on Friday.
It follows the withdrawal of Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood and Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy through injury.
George steps up from the under-23 squad to win her first Lionesses call-up since the World Cup qualifiers in 2019.
Meanwhile, captain Leah Williamson has travelled to Skopje under concussion protocols and will not be involved.
The skipper missed training earlier this week as a precaution after being assessed following Arsenal’s win at Leicester City at the weekend.
Having made the decision to appoint Williamson as the captain for the upcoming European Championships, England manager Sarina Wiegman said the Arsenal player “connects” her team-mates.
“I think Leah has done a great job,” Wiegman said at Thursday’s news conference.
“She is a very good player and she connects people on and off the pitch so that is why I made her captain.
“She came into camp good on Sunday but we didn’t want to take any risks [against North Macedonia] and she had a bit of a headache so we took the medical protocols.
“She just needs to take a bit more time in her programme to build her up so she is getting prepared for Tuesday’s game [against Northern Ireland].
Former captain Steph Houghton continues to struggle with injury but Wiegman says the veteran Manchester City defender responded to the news of Williamson’s appointment very well.
“I spoke to her before camp and have been in touch with her a lot. She took it very well as a leader,” added Wiegman.
“She is disappointed because she has been captain of this team for so long and she has done a tremendous job, so lots of respect to her, but she also knows she hasn’t joined this team for a long time.
“She came in September and had to leave because of an injury. We hope she will be fit but then she has to perform and compete.
“That is too hard to wait for and, with all the things we have done this season, this wasn’t the moment to wait and appoint the captain.”
Injured duo Greenwood (knee) and Wubben-Moy (thigh) will remain with their clubs Manchester City and Arsenal to manage their conditions.
But Wiegman says it gives her an opportunity to watch George closely in training camp.
“I have never met her before but I have seen her play,” said the England boss.
“She has joined the squad before but then she got an injury. Now this season she has come back. She is the under-23s squad and she is a young and talented player.
“She is also left-footed so it is an opportunity for us to see her in this squad.”
England will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to Group D when they face North Macedonia, who they beat 8-0 in September.
Sarina Wiegman’s side will travel to Northern Ireland for their next game on Tuesday, 12 April.
