Earps; Bronze, Greenwood, Bright; Williamson, Stanway, Carter; Kelly, Toone, James; Russo.

England captain Leah Williamson has spoken of the squad’s commitment to promoting inclusivity ahead of wearing the ‘OneLove’ armband at this month’s Arnold Clark Cup.

Williamson referred to Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto this week announcing he is gay as she stressed the importance of “standing in solidarity”.

Regarding the anti-discrimination armband, Williamson told a press conference on Wednesday: “We’re never shy in saying what we stand for. We’re a squad that promotes inclusivity, equality, we obviously have a number of people that feel very strongly about it. I think it’s not even a question for us really.”

Last year’s Arnold Clark Cup pitted England, currently fourth in FIFA’s world rankings, against three other top-10 teams.

This time they take on sides in a slightly lower bracket, with South Korea, Italy and Belgium lying 15th, 17th and 20th respectively.

South Korea, managed by Englishman Colin Bell, were runners-up at last year’s Asian Cup, while Italy made a Euro 2022 group-stage exit and Belgium reached the quarter-finals.

The squad for the tournament announced last week has a number of players back in after injury, including skipper Leah Williamson, who missed the games in October and November due to a foot problem.

There is also a recall for fellow defender Jess Carter, another member of the Euro 2022-winning squad, and for two-cap midfielder Laura Coombs, having not been in the fold since 2020 and last played for England in 2015.

Emily Ramsey has received her first senior call-up as one of four goalkeepers in the group.

Late inclusion for Nobbs but no England

Jordan Nobbs, who moved from Arsenal to Aston Villa in January and is eyeing the summer’s World Cup after missing both the last edition and Euro 2022 following injuries, was initially left out of this Arnold Clark Cup squad.

But the 30-year-old midfielder was subsequently brought in by Wiegman at the weekend as Fran Kirby withdrew due to a knee issue – and Nobbs looked in the mood to impress on Sunday as she notched a hat-trick in Villa’s 6-2 win at Brighton.

There is no place for Bethany England despite scoring goals since her January move from Chelsea to Tottenham, and fellow Euros-winning forward Nikita Parris has also been omitted. Beth Mead is out due to the ACL injury she suffered in November.

The Arnold Clark Cup has served England well before – they won the inaugural edition this time last year after a 1-1 draw with Canada at the Riverside Stadium, 0-0 draw with Spain at Carrow Road and 3-1 victory over Germany at Molineux, and Sarina Wiegman has spoken about the boost that provided in terms of momentum and confidence ahead of the Euros.

The cup defence sees them follow the South Korea match with games against Italy in Coventry on Sunday and then Belgium in Bristol three days later.

England begin the calendar year having gone without defeat across the whole of 2022, extending a run that started when Sarina Wiegman took charge in September 2021.

It is currently 26 games under the Dutchwoman with 22 wins, two of which were secured in extra-time – the quarter-final and final of the triumphant run at the home Euros in July.

The Lionesses are now building towards the World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand this summer, where they will look to take the success achieved in Wiegman’s tenure to even greater heights.

England were in trouble, as teams often are when their centre-back is thrown forward into the box in the dying moments, wheeled into place as a makeshift striker. And yet, even as the Lionesses were ten minutes away from being knocked out of the Euros, trailing Spain on a stuffy July night in Brighton, Sarina Wiegman had prepared for that exact scenario.

It’s a plan that managers don’t really want to use, a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ situation, and when Millie Bright was given the signal it was an admission that things had gone wrong. But England had been there before: rewind five months and Bright had been hauled forward in the final match of the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup, as the Lionesses chased the late goal they needed to beat Spain to the title.

It was in the 84th minute when Bright struck against Germany to give England the lead and, from there, their first trophy under Wiegman. It was almost in the same minute later that year when Ella Toone rescued the Lionesses against Spain at the Euros. And there was Bright in the box again, glass shattered on the floor, being a presence and creating a panic, just as the defender had done against Germany at Molineux.

Thursday 16 February – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes

Italy vs Belgium – 4:45pm

England vs Korea Republic – 7:45pm

Sunday 19 February – CBS Arena, Coventry

England vs Italy – 3:15pm

Belgium vs Korea Republic – 6:15pm

Wednesday 22 February – Ashton Gate, Bristol

Korea Republic vs Italy – 4:45pm

England vs Belgium – 7:45pm

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Sandy MacIver (Manchester City), Emily Ramsey (Everton, on loan from Manchester United), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jessica Park (Everton, on loan from Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)

Forwards:Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ebony Salmon (Houston Dash).