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Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace get first Lionesses call ups as Sarina Wiegman deals with injury issues to stars

Updated 19/11/2024 at 11:37 GMT

The Lionesses take on the USA and Switzerland in international friendlies as they continue preparations for next summer's Euro 2025 competition, where they will be defending their title. Sarina Wiegman will be without a number of regular stars due to injuries, but that has allowed first call-ups to be given to Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown and Leicester City's Ruby Mace.

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There are two new names in the England squad for their upcoming internationals against the USA and Switzerland, with Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown and Leicester’s Ruby Mace called up for the first time.

Blindkilde Brown - who has represented England at various youth levels - has impressed for City since she moved to the club from Aston Villa at the start of 2024.

Meanwhile, Mace makes the jump up from the under-23 team.

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At club level, she made the permanent move to Leicester in the summer after a successful loan spell from Manchester City last season.

Sarina Wiegman has selected a 24-player squad for the friendlies, which form part of the Lionesses continued preparation for their title defence at next summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament.

England will face the Olympic champions first, as former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes brings her USA team to Wembley on 30 November.

That is before they head to Sheffield to take on Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland at Bramall Lane on 3 December.

Speaking about the upcoming fixtures, Wiegman said: “This is an important international window for us to continue our work to be ready for next summer’s EURO. Every minute of these two games and every moment spent together at St. George’s Park is to make sure we’re where we need to be when the tournament begins on 2 July.

“As we continue our preparations we want to test ourselves against the very best and that’s why we have carefully selected the USA and Switzerland. They are two opponents who will challenge us in different ways this window and that’s exactly what we want.

“The USA need no introductions and to play them at Wembley Stadium in front of a packed home crowd again is going to be very special. Under Emma they’ve reached a really top level.

Leicester's Ruby Mace has previously played for England's under-23 team

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“Switzerland are improving all the time and their impressive victory against France last month shows what they are capable of and how much they continue to grow and develop. It’ll be nice to return to Sheffield, a stadium which gave us one of our most memorable moments together but our full focus is now on our next chapter as a team,” she said.

Despite the positivity from Wiegman, the England coach is without a host of regulars due to injury issues.

Niamh Charles, Lauren James, Lucy Parker, Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp all miss out.

Hemp’s club, Manchester City, have provided an update on the forward. In a statement, they said: “Manchester City can confirm that Lauren Hemp has undergone a successful knee surgery.

“The England international will now return to the City Football Academy to work closely with the club’s medical team on her rehabilitation.”

Manchester United defender Gabby George is back in the squad for the first time in two years.

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