Mark Sampson has recalled Katie Chapman after a five-year absence as the England coach named his 23-strong squad on Monday for the Women's World Cup in Canada next month. The 32-year-old Chelsea midfielder had not played since 2010, and was named in a side which will be captained by Manchester City's Steph Houghton. Arsenal defender and ex-captain Casey Stone was also named in a side which features Reading striker Fran Kirby, who plays in the second tier.
Sampson, however, overlooked Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie and centre-back Gemma Bonner, along with Manchester City left-back Demi Stokes. Eight players will be taking part in their first senior World Cup - Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Jade Moore, Jordan Nobbs, Jo Potter, Toni Duggan, Kirby and Jodie Taylor. "This is a hugely exciting time for all the staff and players," said Sampson.
"We're ranked sixth in the world, we are a good team and we've got some exceptional players. We've got a very compact, resolute unit and we've got a real togetherness in the group so we'll certainly be a difficult opponent for anyone in Canada. "I think as a group of staff we're very clear about the direction we want to take the team in during the tournament and hopefully the players can pull together. "With this group in particular we have a large number of players who have performed very well and contributed to get this team to where it is now.
"The ambition is to go to Canada and win the competition but we've got to treat every game like a final." England begin their campaign against France, who knocked them out of the 2011 tournament in the quarter-finals, in Moncton on June 9, before tackling Mexico four days later and ending their Group F campaign in Montreal's Olympic Stadium against Colombia on June 17.
Squad Goalkeepers: Siobhan Chamberlain (Arsenal), Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Carly Telford (Notts County) Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City, capt), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Laura Bassett (Notts County), Alex Greenwood (Notts County), Claire Rafferty (Chelsea), Casey Stoney (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Fara Williams (Liverpool), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Birmingham), Karen Carney (Birmingham), Jo Potter (Birmingham), Katie Chapman (Chelsea) Strikers: Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Eni Aluko (Chelsea), Lianne Sanderson (Arsenal), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns), Fran Kirby (Reading), Ellen White (Notts County).
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