Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Suzanne Wrack

Taylor Hinds leads trio of new England call-ups as Wiegman hails Bright

Katie Reid, Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds
Katie Reid, Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds are in England’s squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Australia this month. Composite: Getty Images

The Arsenal left-back Taylor Hinds has received her first call-up to the England senior side having opted previously to represent Jamaica. The 26-year-old defender is one of three new faces called up by Sarina Wiegman for friendlies against Brazil and Australia this month, alongside Arsenal teammate Katie Reid and the Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall.

Hinds, who joined Arsenal from Liverpool in the summer, had represented England at under-17 and under‑19 level before deciding to play for Jamaica. She featured once for the Reggae Girlz, in a friendly against France in October 2024, but had not played competitively and has subsequently returned to the England fold, with the Lionesses’ left-back berth there to be claimed.

“We have been following Taylor for a long time,” Wiegman said. “She’s come through the pathway. She has dual heritage so she’s eligible for us. We started having conversations and she hasn’t played much, but we are in a new cycle and I want to see talented players in some different positions. She wants to see what her chances are and it’s good for us to see her in this environment.”

Posting a reaction to her call-up on Instagram, Hinds wrote: “It’s a privilege to have two nationalities, and I’m incredibly proud to represent both. I have nothing but the upmost respect and appreciation for Jamaica – they’ve been so understanding and genuinely want the best for me, which means a lot.

“Being called up to represent England is an amazing feeling and opportunity. I know what it means to wear the shirt, to be a Lioness, and it truly means everything to me and my family.”

Reid has been rewarded for her fine start to the season with Arsenal, having stepped into the breach, ahead of Laia Codina and Lotte Wubben‑Moy, after the knee injury to Leah Williamson that ruled out the England captain for the start of the season.

“It’s exciting for her,” Wiegman said of the 19-year-old. “She started playing for Arsenal very quickly this season, and had a couple of moments last season. She has gone through the pathway too and I just see some very good things on the pitch with her and I hope she can show that in our environment too.”

Kendall is also included having represented England at under-15, under-18, under-19 and under-23 levels. The 21-year-old scored 21 times in 78 games for Southampton before joining Villa in the summer. Wiegman said she was impressed with her reading of the game, adding: “Her positional understanding I’ve thought is really good”.

There are only three players missing from the 23-player squad that won a second successive European title in Switzerland in the summer, with Williamson, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp out through injury. Williamson is not expected back until closer to the end of the year, while James is out “for a period of time” with the ankle injury she sustained during Euro 2025 according to Chelsea. Meanwhile the Manchester City manager, Andrée Jeglertz, has said Hemp will be absent for “a couple of weeks” after she rolled her ankle last month in the 5-1 win against Tottenham.

Millie Bright did not take part at Euro 2025 having withdrawn from selection before the tournament saying she was “not able to give 100% mentally or physically”. The Chelsea centre-back announced her international retirement on the eve of Wiegman’s squad announcement and the manager said she was “just really grateful that I’ve been a little part of her journey”, adding: “She’s still a very good player, so I want her in the squad. But I totally respect and understand her decision.”

Lucy Bronze is included in the squad having come on for Chelsea in added time against Tottenham on Sunday for her first action of the season. The right-back revealed after the final of Euro 2025 that she had played in the tournament with a fractured tibia.

Grace Clinton is also included despite a minor injury and will be assessed by medical staff. “I didn’t want to rule her out,” said Wiegman. “They [Clinton and Bronze] won’t be able to play two full games in a couple of days. Lucy’s fit to play, hasn’t played many minutes yet because she’s just out of her rehab, but she’s trained a lot.”

The Lionesses are entering the next phase of their development for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. “We have about 10 camps before the World Cup, while not taking for granted that we have to qualify,” Wiegman said. “These two windows we have the opportunity to play friendlies where we can try out things and see many players. We know the game is changing a lot, we’ve reviewed the Euros, we’re watching other countries too, what are the trends? What do we see? What do we want to develop? We’re at the stage of having those conversations with the players about how we want to move forward.”

England play Brazil at the Etihad Stadium on 25 October before hosting Australia at Pride Park on 28 October. They complete their Homecoming Series a month later, playing China at Wembley on 29 November before they finish the year against Ghana on 2 December at St Mary’s.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.