England Women: Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly miss out as Sarina Wiegman names squad to face Greece in World Cup qualifiers

· 6 min read

England manager Sarina Wiegman has named a 23-player squad for next month’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece, with Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly both missing out.

Kelly has yet to complete 90 minutes for Arsenal this season and has not started a game. The last time she was not called up by England was February 2025.

Midfielder Toone has also missed out on a place despite starting three of United's Women's Super League fixtures, although she did not feature in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on September 19.

"The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch," explained Wiegman of her decision to leave out Kelly and Toone.

"I have had a conversation with them and there is big competition going on and that is basically what it is.

"It has been a really hard decision for both of them. I really believe in them and we follow them really well and we expect a bit more and know they can bring more.

"I hope they can step up and show what they can do because I'm convinced they can do better. They took the feedback well, in a positive way, but it is also hard to take. It is not a nice message.

"I hope they respond on it really well. I hope they come back even better than they were before.

"I had the conversation with Chloe and it was just about what I saw on the pitch. I kept with football with her [and Toone]."

England squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool), Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City on loan from Orlando Pride)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Manchester City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage), Lexi Potter (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Arsenal), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)

Forwards: Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

As well as that pair, Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and the Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds have also been omitted from the squad.

However, captain Leah Williamson, 29, does return after missing June's 4-0 defeat by Spain and the 3-0 victory over Ukraine with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter earns her first call-up to the senior squad. The 20-year-old has started three of her side's first four games and was on the scoresheet in their 2-0 victory over Birmingham earlier this month.

Wiegman added: "I think she's grown a lot. Last season we kept a close eye on her because she was already getting into the squad but I think she has started this season really well.

"Her performances have really impressed us, so she really deserves this call-up. She's showed at Chelsea she can start against any team.

"What I've seen from her is she comes out on the pitch and just plays, she is comfortable, so I hope to see that next week."

And there is also return for both Liverpool defender Grace Fisk and the uncapped North Carolina Courage midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson after her debut in April, while Manchester City full-back Niamh Charles also makes the squad having made her comeback from injury as a substitute in the WSL champions' 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

England face a double header against Greece, first at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete on October 9, before the return meeting at Leicester City's King Power Stadium on October 13.

Should the European champions, who were runners-up at the 2023 World Cup, progress to the second round of the World Cup play-offs, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine over two legs during the final international window of the year in November and December.

Wiegman says she is only focussing on the Greece playoff and not her contract

Image: Wiegman says she is only focussing on the Greece playoff and not her contract

The winners at that stage will secure qualification for next summer's tournament in Brazil.

"We have great respect for Greece but our expectations of ourselves are clear," said Wiegman. "We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup.

"It's always exciting to reconnect as a group and we are looking forward to getting back together. The players will arrive motivated and ready for the next steps.

"We are looking forward to travelling to Crete and playing Greece for the first time ever. We will then return to Leicester, where we've enjoyed some good moments together in the past. We know our supporters will get behind the team again, and it will be great to play in front of them after a few months away."

Wiegman tight-lipped on new England deal

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Anton Toloui gets a light-hearted response to her England future from Sarina Wiegman as her contract nears it's end

Wiegman is under contract until the end of next summer's World Cup and is yet to agree a new deal which would see her stay beyond 2027.

The 56-year-old was asked in Tuesday's press conference if there has been any progression on a contract extension, but said she is totally focused on the upcoming playoff games with Greece.

She added: "We have regular conversations together and talk about the future at moments, but at this moment I'm just focusing on Greece and want to get through and qualify for the World Cup.

"We always speak. Of course I talk to Mark [Bullingham, FA chief executive officer] every two weeks, and we talk about what is happening now and the future, but there is nothing new, we are focusing on Greece and then hopefully the World Cup."

'The numbers don't lie for Toone and Kelly'

Sky Sports' Anton Toloui:

Both Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone have struggled for form with Arsenal and Man Utd respectively this season

Image: Both Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone have struggled for form with Arsenal and Man Utd respectively this season

Sarina Wiegman will not have wanted to leave out two of her most trusted players, but the numbers do not lie when it comes to Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.

Toone has struggled to find her form under new Manchester United head coach Eva Olid, with almost every key metric expected of a midfielder trending down.

It was therefore no surprise to see her left out of the WSL game against Arsenal. Toone has struggled to produce the moments of magic we have become so accustomed to seeing from her this season.

For Kelly, her lack of starts at Arsenal has ultimately caught up with her. Her only starts came in the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace and the narrow win over HB Koge, although she was substituted with the game still goalless.

Kelly was left out four months before Euro 2025, but fought her way back into the squad and went on to become one of the heroes of England's successful campaign.

She will be hoping for a similar journey this time around, as will Toone.