United Women: Who could feature in February’s internationals?

Wednesday 15 February 2023 16:50

Manchester United Women’s season is on a temporary pause as February’s slate of international fixtures gets under way.

The Reds defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in north London over the weekend to go top of the WSL, before several of our players joined up with their respective nations for the upcoming matches. 

Before our next outing, a Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Durham a week on Sunday, members of Marc Skinner’s side could be involved in several invitational tournaments, while there’s a potentially significant friendly date awaiting one uncapped Red.

Below, you can get a lowdown on who has been called up by who, and when all those games are…

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CANADA

Adriana Leon has been picked by Canada for their SheBelieves Cup campaign in America. Our forward's nation will play matches against the USA, Brazil and Japan for the right to lift the trophy. 

Bev Priestman's side face the hosts - the current tournament holders - first, in the early hours of Friday morning (UK time), before their other round-robin fixtures against Brazil and Japan follow in the days after.

17 February: USA v CANADA (00:00 GMT)
19 February: Brazil v CANADA (23:30 GMT)
22 February: CANADA v Japan (21:00 GMT)

ENGLAND

United have six Lionesses in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad that is looking to defend the Arnold Clark Cup, on home soil, over the next week or so. Among that number is young United goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, on a season-long loan at Everton, who has seen her club form for the Toffees rewarded with a call-up to the senior set-up for the first time. 

Fellow Reds Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem, Mary Earps and Maya Le Tissier are also part of the European champions’ group to take on Korea Republic, Italy and Belgium in the tournament. All four teams play each other once, and the side with the most points after those games takes the trophy.

16 February: ENGLAND v Korea Republic (19:45 GMT)
19 February: ENGLAND v Italy (15:15 GMT)
22 February: Belgium v ENGLAND (19:45 GMT)

FRANCE 

January loan signing Estelle Cascarino has been included in the French squad for their Tournoi de France campaign this month. 

The midfielder, who made her United debut in the FA Cup win at Sunderland, is joined by her sister Delphine in Les Bleus’ group, for their fixtures against Denmark, Uruguay and a Norway outfit containing two Reds. France have won each of the two previous editions of the home round-robin competition, with those victories coming in 2020 and 2022.

15 February: FRANCE v Denmark (20:10 GMT)
18 February: FRANCE v Uruguay (20:10 GMT)
21 February: FRANCE v Norway (20:10 GMT)

NORWAY 

Like Cascarino, both Maria Thorisdottir and Vilde Boe Risa are set for Tournoi de France action this month, having been selected by head coach Hege Riise in the Norwegian side. 

First up is a meeting with Uruguay this evening, before a fixture versus Denmark and a finale with hosts France, which could see United players going head-to-head on the pitch.

15 February: NORWAY v Uruguay (17:00 GMT)
18 February: Denmark v NORWAY (17:00 GMT)
21 February: France v NORWAY (20:10 GMT)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 

Congratulations to Reds defender Aoife Mannion who received her first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland side this month. Our centre-back had previously represented England at youth levels, and twice been included in the Lionesses’ senior squad without being capped, before switching her allegiance to the country where her mother and father were born. 

Having recovered from a long-term knee injury to be in the matchday squad for each of United’s five competitive games so far this year, Mannion has joined up with her new team-mates in Spain for a 10-day training camp and could get her first competitive minutes since January last year – along with her inaugural international cap – during the nation’s friendly with China next Wednesday.

22 February: China v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (13:00 GMT)

SCOTLAND 

There are two United representatives in the Scotland group: Kirsty Hanson – on a season-long loan with Aston Villa – and Martha Thomas. Pedro Martinez Losa’s side are in Spain for the Pinatar Cup and have already played their first match of the round robin, losing 2-0 to Iceland earlier this afternoon. Hanson started the match, while Thomas was introduced from the bench. 

Games against the Philippines (Saturday) and Wales (next Tuesday) now await for our duo, as they look to help their country get on the board in the tournament.

15 February: Iceland 2 SCOTLAND 0
18 February: SCOTLAND v Philippines (14:00 GMT)
21 February: SCOTLAND v Wales (14:00 GMT)

WALES 

In the Pinatar Cup, United also have three players in the Wales squad, meaning there could be as many as five Reds involved in a matchday-three fixture on 21 February, when they face Scotland. 

Carrie Jones, on loan at Leicester City, Hayley Ladd and young goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel are all included in Wales’ 27-strong group for that game against the Scottish side, and meetings with the Philippines and Iceland.

15 February: WALES v Philippines (19:30 GMT)
18 February: Iceland v WALES (19:30 GMT)
21 February: Scotland v WALES (14:00 GMT)

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