The October international break is upon us, and England’s women’s national team is gearing up for two friendly matches against Germany and South Africa. In preparation for these fixtures, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her 22-player squad, featuring a mix of established stars and promising newcomers.
One of the standouts from this latest selection is goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, who currently plies her trade for NWSL table-toppers Orlando Pride. This will be her second call-up to the senior squad, with Moorhouse having previously represented England at the under-20 level. Another familiar face in the Lionesses setup is Lucy Parker, who returns to the fold after an impressive 2023-2024 campaign with Aston Villa.
With the friendlies fast approaching, 90min takes a closer look at the top five breakout stars in the Lionesses squad. First up is Tottenham Hotspur forward Jessica Naz, who has retained her place in the squad after an impressive start to the 2024-2025 season. Naz made her senior debut in July’s UEFA Women’s Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland and has been making waves for Spurs in the WSL since.
Next is Manchester City midfielder Jess Park, who has firmly established herself in Gareth Taylor’s starting lineup after stepping up following Jill Roord’s ACL injury in January. Park’s impressive form in the league has been rewarded with the Barclays Women’s Super League ‘Goal of the Month’ award for her stunning strike in City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season.
Another rising star in the Lionesses setup is Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, who made her debut in England’s 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland and has revelled in her recent goal-scoring form for the Blues. With some of England’s other forwards struggling for consistency, this could be the perfect opportunity for Beever-Jones to announce herself on the international stage.
Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier, who was recently named the Red Devils’ new captain following Katie Zelem’s departure, has also earned a call-up. At just 22, Le Tissier has become a key figure in United’s defence, playing alongside the experienced Dominique Janssen and Millie Turner. United’s rock-solid backline has conceded just one goal in four WSL matches, further solidifying Le Tissier’s importance to the team.
Last but not least, there’s Grace Clinton, who had a breakout year while on loan at Tottenham before returning to her parent club, Manchester United. Clinton scored three goals this season and should be in line to start for the Lionesses in their upcoming friendlies.
As the international break commences, Wiegman’s squad is filled with exciting talent, and these five players are sure to make their mark on the international stage.
