Fran Kirby recalled to England squad for Belgium double-header

Brighton forward Fran Kirby has returned to the England Women's national team to prepare for next month's Women's Nations League matches against Belgium. The 31-year-old previously made a substitute appearance in the 0-0 draw against the United States last November but missed the February matches due to injury. Her return will undoubtedly strengthen the England squad.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman stated in an interview with BBC Sport, "I'm delighted to see Kirby fit and available for selection. She brings a wealth of experience and excellent game vision, and her return is a positive for the team." Kirby is listed as a midfielder, joining Arsenal forward Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly in the squad, but Tottenham's Jess Naz was not selected. Brighton midfielder Maisy Symonds received her first call-up to the senior national team, having been promoted from the U23 squad, and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating was also included.

Wiegman added, "Both Mead and Kelly possess a very high level. Their performances at Arsenal show they can flexibly interchange positions. They are completely different wingers." She also spoke about Naz: "I had a conversation with Naz, and she is naturally disappointed. She is working hard to turn things around. At times, things go well, but at other times, you can only hope things go well and continue to do the right things. She is doing that. The competition in the forward line is very fierce, which is good for the players, but it can also be disappointing for players at times."

The England team still has several key players sidelined due to injury, including Manchester City stars Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood, as well as Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway. Wiegman's 25-player squad will face Belgium at Ashton Gate on April 4th (Friday) at home (kick-off at 20:00 BST), before traveling to Leuven for the match on April 8th (Tuesday) (19:30).

England Women's Nations League journey began with a draw in Portugal, followed by a 1-0 victory over world champions Spain at Wembley last month. Wiegman said: "What I would say is that the fighting spirit, the togetherness, and the humility that we saw in the game against Spain is what I hope to see against Belgium. That is what the players hope to see as well. It will be a different challenge because we anticipate having more possession."