Exciting News: England Manager Hints at Sensational Returns for Beth Mead and Fran Kirby – Game Time Crucial!

Beth Mead and Fran Kirby are on the verge of making a comeback for the England national team, according to Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman. However, both players require additional playing time to ensure they are fully prepared following their individual injuries.

For the upcoming Women's Nations League, Wiegman has announced a squad consisting of 24 players. The only absentees from the World Cup squad are Bethany England and Keira Walsh, whilst Lucy Staniforth, Maya Le Tissier, and Jess Park have been included in the group.

Mead and Kirby, who both suffered from long-term knee injuries and missed the World Cup, have now resumed club action for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively. Recently, Kirby has appeared in pre-season friendly matches for Chelsea, whereas Mead was included on the bench for Arsenal's Champions League qualifying games but did not get the chance to play as a substitute.

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Kirby is back in action for Chelsea after not making it to the World Cup.

"Arsenal has participated in the Champions League and Beth was part of the squad. She has been out for a long time and she requires game time," Wiegman announced during a press conference.

"Fran is really close, she played friendlies already. But it's a little too early to bring her in. We are looking forward to seeing them play."

'Time to move on from Rubiales incident'

Wiegman addressed the public for the first time since Luis Rubiales, the President of the Spanish FA, indicated his intention to step down. Rubiales faced controversy after allegedly kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the Women's World Cup celebrations, with Hermoso denying consent. On Sunday, Rubiales announced his resignation from his position, having already been temporarily suspended by FIFA. Additionally, he has been instructed to appear before a Spanish judge after state prosecutors officially charged him with sexual assault and coercion.

It is time to move on from the incident and focus on celebrating Spain's players for their victory in the World Cup. One thing we can take away from this incident is the importance of listening to players. Let's shift our conversation to recognizing and honoring the Spanish players' achievements, which we have not been discussing enough.

We are all aware of the ongoing news and developments surrounding this issue, and I will now defer to the individuals currently involved in handling it.

It is crucial to lend an ear to the players and make progress. The women's game has made significant advancements, yet there is still significant progress to be made.

Wiegman on calendar concerns and FA bonus row

The women's football calendar is one of the issues, according to Wiegman, who expresses her concern about her England players not getting enough rest after their World Cup endeavors.

Wiegman, the Lionesses boss, disclosed that some England players, including Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy, have already participated in competitive matches shortly after being part of her World Cup squad. She further revealed that these players have had less than a week's break before being summoned by their clubs for pre-season.

I am extremely concerned. My worries started even before the commencement of the World Cup. We were well aware that the time between events was incredibly short. It is an overarching issue.

In order to address this, it is crucial for us to establish a strong connection with FIFA, UEFA, and the various federations. We must strive to improve the current calendar system.

"The game is experiencing impressive growth, which is highly positive. We are witnessing significant advancements in the game itself, but alongside that, there is also an influx of commercial elements, which is advantageous. However, it is crucial for both aspects to progress harmoniously, considering that players also require sufficient rest.

Next week, they will be back in action, and it is worth mentioning that certain players have had a mere six days off. Given the intense nature of their high-level and high-pressure competitions, this limited rest period is detrimental to their well-being."

"This ongoing issue has persisted for quite some time due to the frequent occurrence of major tournaments in the summer. The need to address and improve it is extremely high."

However, Wiegman expressed her confidence in the swift resolution of the Lionesses and the FA's dispute over World Cup bonuses.

The rift overshadowed the preparations leading up to the World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. Just before the team was set to depart for the tournament, a disagreement erupted among the players regarding the bonuses they were supposed to receive from the FA as they advanced in the competition.

Nevertheless, the players released a statement declaring their intention to set aside their differences for the entirety of the tournament.

The squad is still frustrated as they prepare to regroup, but there are no plans for a strike or a decrease in media and commercial responsibilities while on FA duty. Wiegman mentioned that there was no prior agreement between the players and FA before the tournament, so they decided to disagree and resume discussions after the World Cup. Despite the tight schedule, these conversations will commence again, and Wiegman is hopeful for a positive outcome.

England squad for Women's Nations League in full

The Defenders for the team consist of Millie Bright from Chelsea, Lucy Bronze from Barcelona, Jess Carter from Chelsea, Niamh Charles from Chelsea, Alex Greenwood from Manchester City, Maya Le Tissier from Manchester United, Esme Morgan from Manchester City, and Lotte Wubben-Moy from Arsenal.

The Midfielders include Laura Coombs from Manchester City, Jordan Nobbs from Aston Villa, Jess Park from Manchester City, Lucy Staniforth from Aston Villa, Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich, Ella Toone from Manchester United, and Katie Zelem from Manchester United.

Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Man City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Katie Robinson (Brighton).