Khiara Keating returns to Lionesses squad after eight-month absence following impressive Man City comeback as Sarina Wiegman hands Maisie Symonds maiden England call-up amid midfield injury crisis

Khiara Keating is back in the Lionesses squad for the first time since July ahead of England's double-header with Belgium in the Nations League.

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• Keating back with Lionesses after eight months away
• Symonds given first call-up amid injury crisis
• England face Belgium twice in April

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Keating had a breakthrough season at Man City last term, winning her first senior England call-ups in a campaign that saw her become the youngest player to win the Women's Super League's Golden Glove award. The arrival of Ayaka Yamashita has impacted her minutes this time around, meaning Sarina Wiegman hasn't called upon her since last summer. However, injury to the Japan No.1 has paved the way for Keating to return to the City XI lately and she is now in the Lionesses squad again for the first time in eight months, following an outstanding display against Chelsea at the weekend.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Elsewhere, there are returns to the full squad for Lucy Parker and Chloe Kelly, who were late additions to Wiegman's list in February after Lotte Wubben-Moy and Beth Mead had to withdraw, as well as Fran Kirby, who missed the last camp due to injury. Kirby is joined by another Brighton team-mate, too, as Maisie Symonds has been handed a maiden senior call-up. England were already without Georgia Stanway in midfield after the Bayern Munich star had knee surgery in January and they have lost two more midfielders since the February games, in the form of Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown. This is a good opportunity for Symonds to show that she can bolster that area of the pitch, then.

• LIONESSES SQUAD IN FULL

  Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (PSG), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Khiara Keating (Man City)

  Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Millie Turner (Man Utd), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lucy Parker (Aston Villa), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)

  Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Man Utd), Fran Kirby (Brighton), Jess Park (Man City), Maisie Symonds (Brighton), Ella Toone (Man Utd), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)

  Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, on loan from Man City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Brighton), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

• WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

  Speaking ahead of England's second camp of 2025, Wiegman said: "It’s good for us to be back together so quickly after a positive start to this year. We have a lot we want to achieve in the Nations League and although we are satisfied with our start in the group, there’s much more work to be done to improve our game. After two very difficult fixtures against them in 2023 we know the challenge Belgium will pose. We will need to be fully focused and perform at our best to get the two results we are looking for."