National women’s football coach, Hope Powell, has revealed her line-up to compete in England’s qualifying match away to Holland later this month for a place in Euro 2013.

Faye White and Kelly Smith are still unavailable due to injury but the squad welcomes the return of forward Eniola Aluko who has had some time off following her Law studies.

It is also good news for midfielder Jade Moore who will experience her first senior match for the England squad, Powell says, “I know she has performed for the U19’s and U23’s in the past and this gives me an opportunity to have a look at her in a senior environment. It will be a challenge for her, but hopefully she can cope with it and I hope the experience will give her an added desire to make it a regular occurrence.”

20 of the 22 players chosen helped see England collect 4 points last month against Serbia and Slovenia, however Holland’s 6-0 win over Serbia will have boosted the confidence of England’s October opponents and Powell is expecting a challenging match,

“I am expecting a very tough fixture, especially because the game will be played on a 3G pitch. That is an added pressure that we will need to prepare properly for that surface.”

Powell has said that in order to win, “we know we will have to be at our best.”

Squad in full
Goalkeepers
Karen Bardsley (Linköpings – on loan from Sky Blue), Rachel Brown (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Bristol Academy)
Defenders
Sophie Bradley (Nottingham Forest - on loan from Lincoln), Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), Casey Stoney (Lincoln), Dunia Susi (Birmingham City), Rachel Unitt (Everton), Fern Whelan (Everton)
Midfielders
Laura Bassett (Birmingham City), Dan Buet (Chelsea), Steph Houghton (Arsenal), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jill Scott (Everton), Fara Williams (Everton)
Forwards
Eniola Aluko (Sky Blue), Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Jess Clarke (Lincoln), Natasha Dowie (Everton), Ellen White (Arsenal) Rachel Williams (Birmingham City), Rachel Yankey (Arsenal)

Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine