Mead misses out AGAIN on return - but Kirby gets nod for Lionesses' next round

Fran Kirby is back in the England squad for the first time this year but Beth Mead must wait to make her return after missing out on selection for this month’s Nations League games with Belgium.

Both Kirby and Mead missed the World Cup through injury but have returned to action with Chelsea and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Kirby made her comeback in the Blues’ first game of the season while Mead came off the bench for Arsenal on Sunday. But only Kirby has been picked by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman.

There is a first senior call-up for 19-year-old goalkeeper Khiara Keating and 20-year-old midfielder Grace Clinton.

Keating has started all of Manchester City’s games this season while Clinton, who is on-loan at Tottenham from Manchester United, scored a superb goal against Brighton on Sunday.

Jordan Nobbs, Katie Robinson, Laura Coombs and Lucy Staniforth have all dropped out from last month’s squad.

‘It’s good for us to be back together. Obviously we had a good start with the win against Scotland; however, the outcome of our last fixture against the Netherlands was disappointing.

‘We will be fully focused to perform well twice against tough opposition. Belgium’s results in the Nations League show they are talented side who can cause teams problems, so we will need to be at our best to get the results we’re looking for.

‘The group is wide open, so every game is crucial. The squad have shown their ability to respond to setbacks and I’m sure this will be no different.

'We look forward to meeting up at St George’s Park next Monday and putting in the time to make sure we’re fully prepared and ready to go twice in quick succession.

‘Again we feel very fortunate to be playing in front of a sell-out crowd. The support we are receiving from all corners of the country is amazing, it isn’t something we’ll ever take for granted and it really gives us that extra lift. Hopefully we can give them another night to remember.’

England will play Belgium in back-to-back games in five days, with the first coming at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on October 27. They will then travel to Leuven for the return fixture on October 31.