England’s shock call-up for Portugal-based 17-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson

England have given a shock call-up to the 17-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson for April’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland.

The Singapore-born Parkinson, who plays for the Portuguese first division side Valadares Gaia, will be part of Sarina Wiegman’s senior squad for the first time, having previously featured across the Lionesses pathway.

“We called her up because we are a little bit low in depth in midfield with injuries to Ella Toone and Grace Clinton,” Wiegman said. “So we have to look at who’s next and Erica has gone through the pathway, plays in Portugal, has done well in the under-23s. She is a very dynamic midfielder who likes to go forward … aggressive, technical.”

Parkinson was included in the under-23 squad for fixtures against Norway and the United States at the end of last year. Wiegman said: “It’s a big step from the 23s and the Portuguese competition to go into the senior level but she gets the chance to show where she stands at our level.

“She was speechless she said, but very happy, surprised and excited of course. She’s ready to come in. For every young player it is a step up; we’re not going to force anything.”

Wiegman named a 23-player group, with the Arsenal forward Beth Mead returning after she missed the last set of internationals with a hairline shin fracture.

Manchester City’s captain, Alex Greenwood, also sat out the wins over Ukraine and Iceland owing to injury but is back in the squad. The London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey, who earned a first call-up in November, is included and is looking to earn her first cap.

Aggie Beever-Jones joins Clinton and Toone in being absent owing to injury. The Lionesses face the world champions, Spain, at Wembley on Tuesday 14 April, before facing Iceland in Reykjavik four days later.

The meeting with Spain will be the first between the nations since the Euro 2025 final, when Wiegman’s side become back-to-back European champions.