England’s preparations for a heavyweight Wembley meeting with Spain have taken an early hit, but they have also opened the door for one of the country’s brightest young forwards.
Freya Godfrey, a regular in Sarina Wiegman’s recent squads and one of the breakout performers of the season with London City Lionesses, has been forced to withdraw after suffering a shoulder problem. The 20-year-old, who left Arsenal permanently in the summer in search of regular football, returns to her club for treatment and must wait a little longer for a first senior cap.
It is a brutal pause to a rapid rise. Godfrey has been involved in each of Wiegman’s last three squads, a nod to her form in the Championship and her maturity in and around the senior setup. She had edged herself to the brink of a debut. Now, the momentum stalls – at least temporarily.
In her place comes another 20-year-old with a similarly sharp upward curve: Keira Barry.
Barry’s big break
Barry, long regarded as a standout talent in England’s youth ranks, spent a decade in the Manchester United system before walking away in February, frustrated by a lack of first-team chances. She gambled on a move to the United States and Bay FC. That decision is already paying off.
Under former England youth coach Emma Coates, Barry has hit the ground running in the NWSL, scoring in a recent win over North Carolina Courage and injecting the kind of direct, fearless wing play that made her such a coveted prospect.
Coates was effusive when Bay FC announced her signing, talking up Barry’s “relentless energy,” technical quality and front-foot mentality, and it is exactly that profile which has now earned her a first senior England call-up. Barry had been due to link up with the Under-23s this month. Instead, she steps straight into the Lionesses’ senior camp.
Her promotion triggers another change further down the pathway. Vivienne Lia, on loan at Hammarby from Arsenal, moves into the Under-23 squad. Lia has started the Damallsvenskan season with purpose, recording a goal and an assist in Hammarby’s 3-1 win over Rosengard on the opening weekend. England’s forward production line, clearly, is in no danger of slowing.
Charles back in the frame
There is more positive news for Wiegman in defence. Niamh Charles, capped 31 times by England, returns to the squad after three months out with an ankle injury.
The Chelsea full-back, converted from a forward earlier in her career, has been carefully managed back to fitness. She made her comeback with a 17-minute cameo in Chelsea’s chaotic 4-3 win over Aston Villa at the end of March, added another half-hour against Arsenal days later, then started and impressed in the FA Cup victory over Tottenham on Monday – her first start since December.
When Wiegman named her initial squad, Charles had only those 17 minutes behind her, so her omission then was understandable. With two more games and a strong FA Cup performance now on her side, the England manager has moved quickly to restore her to the group. It is a timely boost in a position where reliability and versatility are at a premium.
Eyes on Williamson and Mead
The concern for England is that Godfrey might not be the only casualty before Spain arrive at Wembley.
Leah Williamson has missed Arsenal’s last five matches with a hamstring issue, an unwelcome setback for a player still piecing together rhythm after her ACL lay-off. Beth Mead, meanwhile, limped off in Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton at the weekend, raising fresh doubts over her availability.
Both remain in the squad for now, and Tuesday’s update contained no further bad news on either. That silence will be interpreted as cautiously positive, but there is still a week to navigate before England walk out under the arch.
Wiegman has already shown she will turn to youth when opportunity knocks. Barry’s elevation, Lia’s promotion and Charles’s return all underline the depth of options at her disposal. The question now is whether her senior core, led by Williamson and Mead, will be fit enough to join them when Spain provide the latest measure of where this England side truly stands.
