Kerys Harrop has been called up for the England first team as they face Canada in a friendly game. The Birmingham defender is going to be making her debut as her team mate Jade Moore and Chelsea’s Claire Rafferty and Carly Telford have also been called up for the friendly match. The match will be played between England and Canada in the New York stadium on the 7th of April this year.
Birmingham’s Karen Carney has been ruled out of the first team as she suffers from an ankle ligament injury. England coach, Hope Powell spoke to the press and remarked that Kerys had been performing well in the under-23 category and that the first team management squad had been recording her progress all this while. Kerys Harrop who is only twenty two years old, was a part of the Birmingham team that the very first FA women’s cup last season and was then also a member of the English squad which won the European Women’s Cup in the year 2009 in the under-19 category.
Powell remarked that Kerys was in La Manga with the under-23s when she asked her to teain with the first team and the fact that she played properly gave her another chance to make an impact in the eyes of Hope Powell. The fact that the team has been doing well eases the pressure of Kerys and Gemma and will give them a good opportunity to blend into the team.
Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner also returns to the team after she was involved for the first time in the month of March this year. Amongst the goal keepers there are no surprises as Karen Bardsley, Rachel Brown and Carly Telford along with Siobhan Chamberlain are called up for the international friendly. Amonst the defenders, a total of ten players have been called up including the likes of Laura Bassett, Gemma Bonner, Sophie Bradley, Steph Houghton, Claire Rafferty, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Dunia Susi and Rachel Unitt.
The midfeilders who have been called up for the fixture include Anita Asante, Jess Clarke, Jade Moore, Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott, Fara Williams and Rachel Yankey who scored the winner in the final of the Cyprus Cup. And finally amongst the forwards, Toni Duggan from Everton, Eniola Aluko form Chelsea, Kelly Smith from Arsenal, Ellen White from Arsenal and Rachel Williams form Birmingham have been called for the match against Canada. It is important for England to strike the right balance and continue playing with their winning formula if they are to achieve success at the European Cup this summer.
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