Powell selects squad for La Manga
Monday, 21 December, 2009
Three new faces among squad for first training camp of 2010.
Hope Powell has selected a 33-player squad for the first England Women’s training camp of 2010. England leave for La Manga on Monday 11 January.
There are three new faces in the squad in the form of Sophie Bradley, Claire Rafferty and Ellen White and Powell feels that these training camps provide a good platform to bring young players into the senior squad.
“Sophie, Claire and Ellen all performed well under Mo Marley’s guidance last year and we felt it was the right time to bring them in and aid their development,” Powell said. “The senior squad is big step up for them but I’m sure the experience will be invaluable to their future development.”
Arsenal pair, Gemma Davidson and Rachel Yankey, also return to the squad and Powell expects competition to be fierce in 2010.
“We have a massive year coming up,” she predicted. “We have got six points so far in our World Cup campaign but the complicated qualification process means we have to remain focused on the job in hand and qualify for Germany in 2011 and that means finishing top of the group.
“I don’t believe we have started playing yet this in this campaign, despite winning our first two games, and now is a good time to look at all the players we have at our disposal and ensure competition for places is at its highest. Rachel and Gemma have started the season well at Arsenal and we look forward to seeing them in January.”
Kelly Smith also returns to the fold for the training camp, her first appearance with the squad since the Euro 2009 Final against Germany.
Powell said: “It’s good to have Kelly back with the squad, I’m sure the extra rest after the Euros has done her and her knee the world of good. It’s an injury that has had to be carefully managed and hopefully we will see her at her best next year.”
Powell’s side beat Malta and Turkey in their opening two matches of their World Cup campaign and currently sit in second place in Group 5 behind Spain, six points behind having played two games less.
England’s next fixture is against Austria on 25 March in England. They then play Spain at home on 1 April.
Squad in full
Name |
Club |
Karen Bardsley |
Sky Blue |
Rachel Brown |
Everton |
Siobhan Chamberlain |
Chelsea |
Carly Telford |
Leeds Carnegie |
Laura Bassett |
Leeds Carnegie |
Sophie Bradley |
Leeds Carnegie |
Steph Houghton |
Leeds Carnegie |
Lindsay Johnson |
Everton |
Claire Rafferty |
Chelsea |
Alex Scott |
Boston Breakers |
Casey Stoney |
Chelsea |
Dunia Susi |
Chelsea |
Rachel Unitt |
Everton |
Fern Whelan |
Everton |
Faye White |
Arsenal |
Corinne Yorston |
Arsenal |
Danielle Buet |
Chelsea |
Katie Chapman |
Arsenal |
Gemma Davison |
Arsenal |
Jill Scott |
Everton |
Emily Westwood |
Everton |
Fara Williams |
Everton |
Rachel Williams |
Doncaster Rovers Belles |
Rachel Yankey |
Arsenal |
Eniola Aluko |
St Louis Athletica |
Karen Carney |
Chicago Red Stars |
Jess Clarke |
Leeds Carnegie |
Natasha Dowie |
Everton LFC |
Jody Handley |
Everton |
Lianne Sanderson |
Chelsea |
Kelly Smith |
Boston Breakers |
Sue Smith |
Leeds Carnegie |
Ellen White |
Leeds Carnegie |