Mark Sampson has announced his squad for the final home match before this summer’s World Cup.
England women will play China at Manchester City’s new Academy Stadium on Thursday 9 April and Sampson has recalled Ellen White, Toni Duggan, Natasha Dowie and Anita Asante for the occasion.
He is unable to select captain Stephanie Houghton due to a knee problem the defender picked up in England’s recent Cyprus Cup triumph. Karen Carney also misses out through injury.
White, however, will be making her international return after a lengthy period on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The Notts County striker last played for her country against Montenegro in April 2014 but could earn her 50th international cap against China, alongside club mate Jess Clarke who has also currently made 49 appearances for England.
Asante has also been absent from the Lionesses’ squad for the best part of a year while Dowie and Duggan featured more recently in September and November respectively.
Sampson said: “This match is the last time we get the group together before we select the final 23-player squad for the World Cup.
“It’s a crucial camp and gives the players the chance to really stake a claim for a seat on the plane to Canada.
“We have a number of players in good form so I am expecting training to be intense and the element of competition within the group to be at its maximum. “With a month to go until we meet up for the tournament, getting as much as we can out of every day is vital to our preparation.”
