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

Teenager plays in Portugal for Valadares Gaia

Lionesses face Spain and Iceland in World Cup qualifiers

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.”