Wiegman says Mead and Kirby are close to England recalls but need more game time
Beth Mead and Fran Kirby are close to a England return, says Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman - but both players need more game time in order to be fully ready after their respective injuries.
Wiegman has named a 24-player squad for the inaugural Women's Nations League later this month, with only Bethany England and Keira Walsh missing from the World Cup squad and Lucy Staniforth, Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park coming into the group.
But there is still no place for Mead and Kirby, who have since returned to club action for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively after missing the World Cup with long-term knee injuries.
Kirby has featured for Chelsea in pre-season friendly action, while Mead was named on the bench for Arsenal's Champions League qualifying matches, but did not make it on as a substitute.
"Arsenal have played in the Champions League and Beth was in the squad. She has been out of a long time and she needs games," Wiegman told 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."
Wiegman was speaking for the first time since Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales said he is planning to resign after he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the Women's World Cup celebrations last month. Rubiales said she had consented to the kiss but Hermoso has denied that.
Rubiales announced on Sunday that he was resigning from his post, from which he had already been provisionally suspended by FIFA. Meanwhile, he has also been ordered to testify to a Spanish judge after Spanish state prosecutors formally accused Rubiales of alleged sexual assault and an act of coercion last week.
Wiegman has since claimed it is time to move on from
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