Sunderland's Beth Mead and Chelsea trio called up by England for China trip

Beth Mead has been named in the England squad for the first time

SUNDERLAND striker Beth Mead has been called up by Mark Samspon for England's trip to China.

 

The Lionesses are taking part in the CFA International Women's Tournament and 20-year-old Mead, top scorer in the Women's Super League with 12 goals, has earned her first call up.

England travel to Chongqing on Monday and take on China and Australia as Sampson eyes competitive fixtures following the bronze medal performance at the Canada World Cup in the summer.

Also included for the first time are Chelsea trio Hannah Blundell, Laura Coombs and Drew Spence while Gilly Flaherty will have another chance to make her debut.

 

Drew Spence (left) and Hannah Blundell (centre) have been called into the squad for the first time

“The tournament is an opportunity for the team to continue to grow and a chance for our new players to lay down a marker and demonstrate their international capabilities," Sampson said.

“I am delighted to welcome the new players into the group. They have all shown potential with their clubs or when they trained with our group prior to the World Cup. 

"The player pool in England is growing and creating strong competition for places is crucial to driving our players and our team to the next level.

“To be able to select a squad this strong without some players from two of our major clubs demonstrates that strength in depth. 

"It is a huge positive that we can work closely with our FA WSL clubs to help our players and I would like to thank all of them for their support this season.”

 

Mark Sampson guided England to their best-ever World Cup performance

A number of Arsenal and Notts County players have been omitted from the squad, a part from Alex Scott, due to their FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup Final on November 1.

Following the tournament in China, England take on Germany on November 26 before their second Euro 2017 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 29 at Ashton Gate in Bristol.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Mary Earps (Bristol Academy), Rachael Laws (Sunderland)

Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Claire Rafferty (Chelsea), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Laura Coombs (Chelsea), Jo Potter (Birmingham City), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Drew Spence (Chelsea)

Forwards: Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Gemma Davison (Chelsea), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Sunderland), Lianne Sanderson (Portland Thorns), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns)