Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone has returned to the England squad for the crucial Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old has not featured for the Lionesses since November because of a hip issue that ruled her out for the second half of the Women’s Super League season.<\/p>\n
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze is also included despite missing Saturday’s WSL win over United and having been seen wearing a protective boot.<\/p>\n
Bronze, 34, has started three of England’s four qualifying matches but is a doubt for next week’s World Sevens tournament.<\/p>\n
“It’s great to have [Toone] back and to see her on the pitch is really great. I think she is really ready to come back,” manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live. <\/p>\n
“In her funny way, she told me in April when she came over to say hi: ‘Yes, I’m a number 10, I can still play!’ It’s good to have her back.<\/p>\n
“Lucy [Bronze] has a small injury. It’s a precaution. We do expect she will be back. There’s two weeks to go, so we expect her to be ready.”<\/p>\n
Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones and London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey, who both missed the last camp through injury, also return.<\/p>\n
However, 18-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson is not included after her surprise call-up in March, while in-form Everton defender Ruby Mace again misses out.<\/p>\n
There is still no place in the 25-player squad for Manchester City midfielder Grace Clinton, who has fallen down the pecking order after an injury-ridden campaign.<\/p>\n
Asked about how Clinton managed her move from Manchester United to City last summer, Wiegman said: “She had a pretty hard season. <\/p>\n
“She came into a very good environment, really enjoyed it, but had some setbacks with injury. Now the next step is that she shows up and gets more minutes. <\/p>\n
“There is big competition going on there. She should keep stepping up and showing what she can do and deliver all the time.”<\/p>\n
England travel to Spain on 5 June (20:00 BST), before hosting Ukraine at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on 9 June (20:00).<\/p>\n