England defender Stoney out of World Cup qualifiers

Published on: 23 November 2017

Casey Stoney has made 129 appearances for England since her debut in 2000England women v Bosnia-Herzegovina women - World Cup qualifierDate: 24 November Venue: Banks' Stadium, WalsallCoverage: Live on BBC Two and online from 18:55 GMT & BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra from 19:00 GMT (Forum, 21:00 GMT, BBC Red Button)

Liverpool's Casey Stoney has withdrawn from the England squad for their home World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.

Everton's Gabby George will earn her first senior international call-up replacing the 35-year-old, who has a calf injury.

George, 20, has featured in England age groups and was included in the U20s squad at the 2014 World Cup.

The matches will be live on BBC Two and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Manchester City forward Keira Walsh, 20, and Arsenal midfielder Leah Williamson, 20, will also make their senior squad debuts.

Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, 33, who has not played for England since breaking her leg during Euro 2017, will return to the squad.

The qualifiers will be interim manager Mo Marley's first competitive games in charge after presiding over the team's 1-0 friendly defeat to France in October.

The Lionesses began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Russia at Prenton Park in September.

'It's irrelevant who will be long-term manager' Former Lionesses captain Mo Marley was confirmed as interim manager on September 29

Marley's future in the role is uncertain after the next two games, although she has applied for the job on a permanent basis.

The former Everton Ladies manager said events on the pitch - and not her career prospects - are at the forefront of her thinking.

"I think it's important to get two big results regardless of who's the full-time manager," said the 50-year-old.

"I've agreed to the interim role and have a responsibility for the players and system. It's irrelevant who will be the full-time manager.

"I put my application in before I started and I'll know whether it's right for me at the end of these three games. You can't assess it on one - I always said I'll judge it after three games."

Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs is also determined to put the focus back on football, after the fall-out over former manager Mark Sampson's sacking.

Sampson was found, after three inquiries, to have used discriminatory language to forward Eni Aluko and team-mate Drew Spence.

He was sacked in September following evidence of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players in a previous role.

"It has been difficult lately but the team we've been developing has had togetherness and we want to push ourselves to be the best," said Nobbs.

"We want to be here and get going again. Football's our main aim and getting six points from these two games."

Source: bbc.com

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