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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

England: Tottenham star Ella Morris earns first senior Lionesses call-up for Nations League double-header

New face: Ella Morris has been included in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the first time - (The FA via Getty Images)

Tottenham defender Ella Morris has earned her first call-up to England’s senior squad for their Women’s Nations League games against Portugal and Spain.

The games are the final matches the Lionesses will play before head coach Sarina Wiegman names her squad for this summer’s Euros, where England are the defending champions.

Morris has earned a first call-up after impressing for Tottenham and England’s Under-23 side.

The 22-year-old is one of 27 players called up by Wiegman, with Arsenal striker Michelle Agyemang among them.

Agyemang, who has spent this past season on loan at Brighton, marked her England debut against Belgium last month by scoring after 41 seconds having come off the bench.

The 19-year-old has been tipped as a star of the future and is pushing to make the squad for this summer’s Euros.

Wiegman has received a boost ahead of the tournament in Switzerland as Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp are all back in this squad after being out with injury.

Chelsea star Lauren James, however, misses out due to a hamstring injury picked up last month.

Lauren James will miss the two Nations League matches with a hamstring injury (The FA via Getty Images)

England will host Portugal at Wembley on May 30, before travelling to Barcelona to face world champions Spain four days later.

The Lionesses will qualify for the Nations League knockout phase, which is in October, if they win both of these games against Portugal and Spain.

Wiegman said: “These are another two important games for us in a big year. Naturally we are preparing for the summer ahead.

“We saw in February that both Portugal and Spain will provide a big challenge and that excites us. These are the levels we need to compete against to make sure we are the best possible version of ourselves on 5 July when our Euros begins.

“At the same time, it is important that we focus first on what is right in front of us and ending the Nations League campaign in the best possible way.

“We have reflected upon two different performances against Belgium in April and although there were positives to take, there is more we want and need to improve on.

“We have the possibility of seeing 27-players in our environment and that’s a real positive. It will give us more good information to make important decisions in the near future.

“Also naming the squad 12 days before the window begins gives all the players clarity as the season ends for some and carries on for others. The hard work continues from the moment we arrive at St. George’s Park on Monday 26 May.”

England currently sit second in Nations League Group A3 with two wins, a draw and a defeat.

After this international window, the Lionesses will play Jamaica at Leicester City on June 29 before travelling to Switzerland to defend their title.

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