Chelsea’s Lexi Potter earns first England call-up vs Greece

Lexi Potter (Chelsea) has earned her first senior England call-up for the Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece. The 20-year-old midfielder’s rise comes after an impressive start to the season with Chelsea, including a starring role in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Sarina Wiegman has also left Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of the squad. The England head coach said: “The main reason is the levels weren’t quite what I expected from them on the pitch.”

There is a return for captain Leah Williamson after injury, while the list adds uncapped 18-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson and London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey.

England face Greece in the first leg at Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete, on Friday 9 October, with the return at Leicester’s King Power Stadium the following Tuesday. They need to win to reach December’s second round of the playoffs. Wiegman said: “We have great respect for Greece… we are here to win these two games.”

Full squad includes Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse; Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Grace Fisk, Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Leah Williamson; Laura Blindkilde Brown, Lucia Kendall, Erica Meg Parkinson, Lexi Potter, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh; Freya Godfrey, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Beth Mead, Jess Park, Alessia Russo.