Ella Toone recalled by England as Lucy Bronze withdraws with minor injury

Ella Toone has been recalled to England's squad for the Women's World Cup play-offs against Greece, while Lucy Bronze has withdrawn to manage a minor injury, BBC Sport reported on Thursday. The Manchester United midfielder returns after being left out of Sarina Wiegman's original selection for the two-leg tie.

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Bronze will return to Chelsea after sustaining the injury in the club's league match against West Ham last weekend, according to the BBC. England arrived in Crete on Wednesday evening, with the first leg scheduled for Friday at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion. The return match is at Leicester City's King Power Stadium on Tuesday, 13 October.

Toone's initial omission came alongside that of Arsenal winger Chloe Kelly. In an interview published by England Football when the squad was announced on 29 September, Wiegman explained that both players' performances had fallen below her expectations. She said she had discussed the decision with them and pointed to competition for places within the national side.

The England coach nevertheless maintained her belief in both players and said they were capable of producing more. Wiegman wanted them to respond positively and said support would be available where needed. That selection announcement also brought a first senior call-up for Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, whose early-season performances and development over the previous year had impressed the manager.

Toone brings experience of England's recent major-tournament campaigns back into the group. BBC Sport put her international record at 24 goals in 69 senior appearances. She was part of the teams that won the European Championship in 2022 and 2025, and started the 2023 World Cup final defeat by Spain.

The Greece tie is the first of two play-off rounds England must negotiate to qualify for Brazil. England Football's squad announcement confirmed that the winners will meet either Slovakia or Ukraine over two legs in the final international window of the year. Victory in that second round would secure a place at the 2027 World Cup; advancing past Greece alone would not complete qualification.