Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Ellen White have all been named in Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player squad, while Jill Scott, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, has also been included.
The news brings welcome returns for Roebuck and Bronze, who had missed Wiegman’s previous three selections through injury, while there is sadly no place for captain Steph Houghton, who has missed City’s last three games having endured a ‘setback.’
The Arnold Clark Cup features four nations ranked in the world’s top ten and will be vital preparation for England’s UEFA EURO 2022 challenge as the host nation this July.
The Lionesses will compete in the first edition of February’s round-robin tournament on home soil, facing Canada, Spain and Germany.
The hosts kick-off against Olympic gold medallists Canada on Thursday 17 February (19:30) at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, before entertaining Spain at Norwich’s Carrow Road on Sunday 20 February (15:15) and locking horns with Germany on Wednesday 23 February (19:30) at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux.
Meanwhile, Janine Beckie could line-up against her Lionesses counterparts in the tournament, having been selected in the Olympic gold medallists’ first squad of 2022.
After facing the Lionesses in Matchday One, Bev Priestman’s side lock horns with Germany on Sunday 20 February in Norwich (20:15) and Spain on Wednesday 23 February in Wolverhampton (13:15).
Elsewhere, Sweden’s Filippa Angeldahl and new Norwegian signing Julie Blakstad could meet each other at the Algarve Cup.
Olympic silver medallists Sweden play Denmark (Friday 18 February, 17:00) and Portugal on Sunday 20 February (17:15), while Norway face Portugal on Wednesday 16 February (18:30) and Italy on Sunday 20 February at 11:00.
Caroline Weir has also made Scotland’s 26-strong squad for this year’s Pinatar Cup.
The Scots, who won the inaugural tournament in 2020 face Wales on Wednesday 16 February (14:30) before taking on the winner of Slovakia versus Belgium on Saturday 19 February (time TBC).
The competition then splits into two different ‘gold medal’ and ‘consolation’ paths, which guarantees another game against Russia, Poland, Republic of Ireland or Hungary on Tuesday 22 February.
Good luck to all of our City stars.
Hark now hear!
Derby Day is upon us... City host United at the Academy Stadium in the FA Women’s Super League on Sunday 13 February - and we need you!
We’re hoping for a bumper crowd to turn out and make the difference. Due to high demand, we’ve opened all Stands and we could even break the stadium’s attendance record and sell out!
Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased online. Prices start from £8 for adults and £3 for Under-16s, while fans are also invited to enjoy Matchday Hospitality in our Manager’s Corner at the Etihad Stadium from £72pp.
