England Women’s rising stars will be given greater opportunity to develop in the international set-up with the creation of a new Next Gen team.
The Next Gen group will replace the current Under-23 set-up, though the squad will still compete in U23-aged matches and competitions.
Marieanne Spacey, who is also the senior team’s assistant coach, will manage team.
The changes are designed to maximise the development of the Next Generation players, to strengthen the pathway into the senior team and allowing older players to be part of the squad.
The Next Gen squads will regularly train alongside the England Women senior team to further enhance player development and align playing styles.
The first Next Gen group will meet at St George’s Park on Sunday 14 August until Thursday 18 August, with Spacey selecting a 17-player squad.
Spacey said: “This is an important change to the England Women’s international set-up.
“It will give our potential senior players the opportunity to be in an environment which not only mirrors the senior team, but also develops their understanding of what we want from our England players on and off the pitch.
“With training camps taking place alongside the senior camps we believe this will create a fantastic learning environment for this group and also an aspiration to step up into that senior group.”
Goalkeepers: Lizzie Durack (Harvard University), Mary Earps (Reading), Danielle Gibbons (Liverpool).
Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Sophie Howard (Hoffenheim), Aoife Mannion (Birmingham City), Jemma Rose (Arsenal), Paige Williams (Verona).
Midfielders: Jade Bailey (Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lauren Bruton (Reading), Drew Spence (Chelsea), Abbey-Leigh Stringer* (Birmingham City).
Forwards: Beth England (Chelsea), Mel Lawley (Birmingham City), Beth Mead (Sunderland).
*replaced Laura Coombs (Liverpool - on loan from Chelsea), who withdrew from the squad due to injury
