Gabby George returns to England squad

It marks a first senior international call-up since November 2022 for the Reds defender, who has returned to action this season after an ACL (anterior-cruciate ligament) injury curtailed her 2023/24 term.

The United Academy graduate is joined in the squad by her club team-mates Grace Clinton, Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner, while Ella Toone misses out due to injury.

Tueesday morning’s call-up is a major achievement for George, who has battled her way back from the second serious knee injury of her career over recent months.

Having returned to the club from Everton at the start of last season, the full-back’s first campaign as a senior Red was brought to a premature end after just four matches, when she was forced off with the knee problem in a home draw with Leicester City.

After nearly a year out, Gabby made her return to first-team action in our season-opening win over West Ham United at Old Trafford in September and has since started six of our subsequent seven matches, helping Marc Skinner’s side to keep four clean sheets across that time.

Our no.3 will now hope to keep making an impact for United in upcoming outings against her former side Everton (Wednesday) and Chelsea (Sunday) before joining up with the Lionesses for friendlies against USA at Wembley Stadium (30 November) and Switzerland (3 December) at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane.

Speaking to reporters at a media conference that followed the squad announcement this morning, Lionesses head coach Wiegman said she is looking forward to working with George, who has two senior England caps, again.

“I’m very happy for her, she’s worked so hard,” Wiegman told the assembled journalists.

“She’s done well for Manchester United, so it will be really good to see her in our environment and how she relates but I think she showed some pretty good games for United.”

ENGLAND LIONESSES SQUAD – NOVEMBER 2024

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (PSG), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride).

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Gabby George (UNITED), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (UNITED), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Millie Turner (UNITED), Leah Williamson (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (UNITED), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Barcelona).

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).

FIXTURES

Sat 30 Nov: United States (H), Wembley Stadium – 17:20 GMT

Tue 3 Dec: Switzerland (H), Bramall Lane – 19:45 GMT

Be sure to keep an eye out across our channels for news of further United Women call-ups ahead of the upcoming internationals.