Image caption, Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone have 136 England appearances between them ByEmma Sanders BBC Sport women’s football news reporter Published 29 September 2026, 11:00 BST Updated 5 hours ago England manager Sarina Wiegman says Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have "not been playing to their potential" and that is why they have missed out on selection.
The Lionesses face Greece in their Women's World Cup qualifying play-off matches in October.
Manchester United midfielder Toone, 27, and Arsenal forward Kelly, 28 have had inconsistent starts to the season.
They both had crucial involvements at Euro 2022 and Euro 2025 as the Lionesses won back-to-back titles, but Wiegman is "convinced they can be better".
"Of course, I still believe in these players.
They are really good and have shown so much for us," Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"But that is also why I didn't pick them this time, because they have not played to their potential in my opinion in the last couple of weeks.
"I had those conversations with them and that was very hard to take.
They took it well and of course, they want to work on that." On reports suggesting Kelly's absence may have been linked to an injury, Wiegman added in her media conference: "I had the conversation with Chloe and for me, it was just what I saw on the pitch.
I kept that with football with her." In addition, Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and Arsenal duo Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds have not made the 23-player squad.
Captain Leah Williamson returns having missed June's 4-0 defeat by Spain and 3-0 win over Ukraine.
"I think she's played really well in the last few weeks and at the start of the season.
She is happy and you can see," added Wiegman.
Figure caption, England manager Sarina Wiegman explains reason for dropping Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly Impressive Potter shows 'courage' Meanwhile, there is a first senior call-up for Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, 20, who has impressed alongside England's Keira Walsh in the Women's Super League.
She has started three of Chelsea's opening four matches and was a standout performer in their 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday.
"Her performances were just really good.
We started following her closely last season and she got minutes over time," said Wiegman.
"She plays with a lot of courage, a lot of understanding and her decision-making is really good.
Her technical ability, we have seen, is really good too.
"What I've seen is that no matter who she plays against, like last Sunday [against Arsenal], it looks like it doesn't bother her at all and she will just play football.
"She played against very high-level players, international players, and she just played.
She looked very comfortable.
I hope she shows that with us too." There is also a return to the squad for uncapped midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson, 18, who has excelled since joining North Carolina Courage in the summer.
Manchester City full-back Niamh Charles made her return from injury as a substitute in their 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday and is included.
London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey and Liverpool defender Grace Fisk are the other two uncapped players named.
England play a double-header against Greece, first in Crete on Friday, 9 October (17:30 BST) and then in Leicester on Tuesday, 13 October (19:30 BST).
If they win the two-legged tie, they progress to round two of the play-offs where they can compete for a place in next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Could Potter be England's next breakthrough star?
Published 6 hours ago All you need to know about 2027 Women's World Cup Published 7 hours ago Full England squad Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool), Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City on loan from Orlando City) Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Manchester City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal) Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage), Lexi Potter (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Arsenal), Keira Walsh (Chelsea) Forwards: Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
