Chelsea defender Millie Bright has been included Sarina Wiegman's Women's World Cup squad and is set to captain the side as they bid to lift a first-ever World Cup trophy.
England manager Sarina Wiegman revealed her 23-player squad for the summer's showpiece event in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, 21-year-old Lauren James is listed among the attackers following her breakthrough season for which she scooped up a slew of Young Player awards. James did not play a part in the triumphant Euro2022 campaign but has cut herself an inimitable threat in attack.
Meanwhile, left-back Niamh Charles' consistency in the Blues shirt has been duly rewarded with another call-up to Wiegman's side, and young defender Jess Carter has also been called upon following her impressive deputising during the absences of Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan in Chelsea's backline.
But the main story is Bright. The reigning league champions were forced to do without the defensive stalwart in the season's final throes after the 29-year-old suffered a knee injury in Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Lyon.
Manager Emma Hayes insisted that the centre-back would recover in time for the summer's World Cup despite being ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
And Hayes' prophecy looks to have come to fruition, with the Lioness listed amongst Wiegman's defence and set to take on the captain's armband in New Zealand and Australia.
The inclusion arrives as a major boost for the Euro2022 champion's bid for a World Cup trophy. Arsenal stars Beth England and Leah Williamson were both absent from Wiegman's final list.
Bright galvanised the spirits of England fans when she was spotted without crutches as she helped captain Magdalena Eriksson lift the FA Cup trophy at Wembley Stadium following the Blues' 1-0 victory over Manchester United, though the defender did not feature.
Bright did similarly following the weekend's triumph at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
On Bright's match fitness, Wiegman was positive but cautious, admitting that Bright was "in a good place".
"She’s still building, we need a little bit more time but it looks good," the England boss said.
England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps [Manchester United], Ellie Roebuck [Manchester City], Hannah Hampton [Aston Villa]
Defenders: Millie Bright [Chelsea], Alex Greenwood [Manchester City], Lucy Bronze [Barcelona], Jess Carter [Chelsea], Niamh Charles [Chelsea], Lotte Wubben-Moy [Arsenal], Esme Morgan [Manchester City]
Midfielders: Keira Walsh [Barcelona], Georgia Stanway [Bayern Munich], Ella Toone [Manchester United], Jordan Nobbs [Aston Villa], Laura Coombs [Manchester City], Katie Zelem [Manchester United]
Attackers: Beth England [Tottenham], Rachel Daly [Aston Villa], Lauren Hemp [Manchester City], Lauren James [Chelsea], Katie Robinson [Brighton & Hove Albion], Chloe Kelly [Manchester City], Alessia Russo [Manchester United]
