Maya Le Tissier awarded England chance as Niamh Charles withdraws from squad
- Niamh Charles has withdrawn from the England squad ahead of Euro 2025 qualifiers against France
- Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier has been drafted in her place
- Southampton goalkeeper Kayla Rendell has also withdrawn from the standby list
Maya Le Tissier has been promoted from the standby list ahead of England’s Euro 2025 qualifying double-header against France.
Sarina Wiegman named her 26-player squad ahead of the summer’s games earlier this month with United’s Le Tissier initially selected on standby, alongside Southampton goalkeeper Kayla Rendell, Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns and Tottenham’s Jess Naz.
However, injuries have prompted a reshuffle with Chelsea’s Niamh Charles the latest to withdraw from the squad due to a calf injury.
This comes after Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy pulled out of the games against France due to a foot injury, with a view to return ahead of the July fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
Elsewhere, Birmingham City goalkeeper Lucy Thomas has replaced Southampton’s Rendell on the standby list as the goalkeeper undergoes treatment for an ankle injury. Rendell had earned her first senior England call-up back in April when she replaced the injured Khiara Keating, but she is yet to receive her first cap.
The Lionesses will play France at St James’ Park on Friday 31 May before the reverse fixture in Saint-Etienne a few days later. In July, Wiegman’s side will take on the Republic of Ireland at Carrow Road on July 12 before an away game in Sweden on July 16.
The new-look UEFA Women’s Euro qualifying format is similar to that of the Nations League and sees England in a tough group in League A, with only the top two automatically qualifying for next year’s tournament in Switzerland.
Should England finish third or fourth in their group, they will have to navigate two rounds of play-offs against teams in Leagues B and C in order to qualify.
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