Three Lioness new coach and former Manchester united ace Phil
Neville has released his 23-man team for this year's SheBelieves Cup.
Nigeria born England
international Eniola Aluko was however conspicuously missing from the list
Neville who was appointed to the position last month however named
Anita Asante in his first England Women squad, with the Chelsea defender called
up for the first time since 2015.
The Ghanaian born defender line up with fellow Chelsea defender
Hannah Blundell and Everton's Gabby George
who could win their first caps in next month's SheBelieves Cup in the
USA.
Captain Steph Houghton is included in new head coach Neville's
23-player squad, despite nursing an injured foot.
Phil however appears to be using the SheBelieves Cup to discover
some new players hinting that the door remains open for all the established
players ahead of the world Cup qualifiers in 2019.
Neville's squad will meet in London this week before jetting out
to the USA for the four-Nation contest, comprising the hosts, France, Germany
and England.
'I have been really impressed by what I have seen in the past few
weeks,' said Neville, who took charge of England Lionesses last month.
'Some exciting young players have caught my eye, and not just
those that have been picked for this squad.
'They will get an opportunity in the coming months to challenge
the established players who, of course, deserve big respect for what they have
done to take this team to third in the world.
'I also hope this squad shows that the door is not closed to anyone
and that those in form will always have a strong chance of being picked.'
England's third involvement in the annual contest will form
pivotal preparation for April's 2019 World Cup qualifying clashes against Wales
and Bosnia.
Mo Marley will assist Neville on an interim basis, with a
permanent number two not expected to be appointed until the summer.
Former England captain Casey Stoney will also join Neville's
backroom staff, having this week retired from a playing career that included
130 Lionesses appearances.
Aluko who has so far made about 102 appearances for England
scoring 33 goals has not been called up
to the national team since may 2016. She featured prominently in the probe into
allegation of bullying and claims of racism the forced the exit of former coach
Mark Simpson
The SheBelieves Cup is an invitational women's association
football/soccer tournament held annually in March in the United States. In its
three first years (2016, 2017, and 2018), it has been contested by the same four
teams: the United States, England, France, and Germany. England have finished
in the third place in two editions with USA and France winning the first and
second editions respectively.
England Squad to the SheBelieves Cup:
Goalkeepers: K Bardsley (Manchester City), S Chamberlain
(Liverpool), C Telford (Chelsea)
Defenders: A Asante, H Blundell, M Bright (all Chelsea), L Bronze
(Lyon), G George (Everton), A Greenwood (Liverpool), S
Houghton (Manchester City), D Stokes (Manchester City)
Midfielders: I Christiansen (Manchester City), J Nobbs (Arsenal),
J Scott, K Walsh (both Manchester City), F Williams (Reading)
Forwards: K Carney (Chelsea), T Duggan (Barcelona), F Kirby
(Chelsea), M Lawley (Manchester City), N Parris (Manchester
City), J Taylor (Melbourne City), E White (Birmingham City)
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