Casey Stoney withdraws from England squad with injury
Thursday 23 November 2017 18:52, UK
Casey Stoney has withdrawn from the England squad for their 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying double-header.
The defender, 35, has a calf injury and will miss the home games against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall on November 24 and Kazakhstan at Colchester on Tuesday November 28.
Everton defender Gabby George has replaced Stoney in the squad and has been given her first senior England call-up.
"I had a problem with my calf earlier last week before I met up with England and we thought I would be able to manage it and get back in time for the game to be in Mo (Marley's) thoughts," Stoney told Sky Sports News.
"Unfortunately it didn't happen. I couldn't train with the ball so it was a decision between myself and Mo to come back to the club and rehab here (Liverpool)."
George has played for England for the U19s, playing under interim senior head coach Mo Marley, and was part of the U20s squad for the 2014 World Cup.
The defender, 20, follows Arsenal's Leah Williamson and Manchester City's Keira Walsh in receiving her first senior call-up, with the midfielders also having played under Marley for the U19s.
England have a 100 per cent record in the qualifiers for the 2019 tournament after their 6-0 demolition of Russia at Prenton Park back in September.
