Eight Foxes Called Up For Women's Internationals
- Sophie Howard (Scotland) and Paige Bailey-Gayle (Jamaica) could feature in World Cup Qualifiers
- Ashleigh Plumptre’s Nigeria to travel to face reigning Olympic champions Canada twice
- Shannon O’Brien and Molly Pike in the England U23s squad for two games against Holland
- Missy Goodwin, Freya Gregory and Elysia Boddy also selected for Young Lionesses
- Ava Baker and Mackenzie Smith both played in England U17s qualifiers last week
Sophie Howard will once again join up with the Scotland National Team for their upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Spain on Tuesday 12 April.
The defender has been named in a 23-player squad to take on the Spaniards at Hampden Park and will be looking to earn her 26th cap.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s side currently sit second in Group B, five points behind pool leaders Spain with three games left to play.
Paige Bailey-Gayle has been selected as part of Jamaica’s squad for their own CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, vying for a place in the tournament which will be held in New Zealand next year.
The Reggae Girlz will travel to face Cayman Islands at Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Sunday 10 April (1am kick-off), before hosting Dominican Republic at Sabina Park the following Wednesday (12am kick-off).
Ashleigh Plumptre is in the Nigeria squad for two international friendly fixtures against reigning Olympic champions Canada this month. The Super Falcons will tackle Bev Priestman’s side at BC Place in Vancouver on Saturday 9 April and then at Starlight Stadium in Langford three days later (both 3:30am kick-offs).
England’s Under-23s team for two international friendlies against the Netherlands includes Foxes midfielders Shannon O’Brien and Molly Pike.
The pair are part of a 24-player squad named by Young Lionesses coach Mo Marley for the warm-weather camp in Spain after being involved in two matches versus France last month.
Both games against the Dutch will be held at Pinatar Arena in Murcia, set to take place on Friday 8 April (3pm kick-off) and Monday 11 April (11am kick-off).
Meanwhile, Missy Goodwin and Freya Gregory have been selected in the Young Lionesses’ Under-19s squad for the final stage of UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship qualifying.
Three fixtures are scheduled to be played at St. George’s Park this month, as four nations battle it out for a place in this summer’s finals in Czech Republic.
The mini tournament begins against Wales on Wednesday 6 April. Iceland are next up for Gemma Davies’ side on Saturday 9 April, ahead of tackling Belgium on Tuesday 12 April (all 1:30pm kick-offs).
Elysia Boddy also received another England call-up, for the Under-18s’ fixture camp, which will see the Young Lionesses play two friendlies at St. George’s Park on Thursday 7 April (7:45pm kick-off) and Sunday 10 April (1pm kick-off).
Academy players Ava Baker and Mackenzie Smith featured for England Under-17s in a trio of qualification matches for this summer’s UEFA Women’s Under-17 European Championships.
The duo both started in the opening group match against France at Stadion Miejski Niepolomice in Poland, falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Baker scored the only goal of the game when John Salomon’s side faced hosts Poland at RKS Garbarnia Krawkow, netting just before the half-hour mark to earn England’s first three points. She played 90 minutes, while Smith was an unused substitute.
England finished off the group by defeating Croatia 8-0 at the same venue last Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to qualify, with only group winners France securing a spot in the finals. Baker assisted the first two goals, playing the opening half of the match.
All times BST.