She’s back in the England squad! In-form striker Beth England is one of the four Chelsea players named by Phil Neville in the Lionesses squad to face Brazil and Portugal.

England hopes to start at home to Brazil and away to Portugal on, respectively, October 5 and 8.

Also named in the squad, goalie Carly Telford, defender Millie Bright and striker Fran Kirby (now with 45 caps).

A notable inclusion is the return of Arsenal midfield player Jordan Nobbs after her recovery from a knee injury suffered last November. Alex Greenwood and Jill Scott have also returned after injury caused them to miss out last time. In addition, Neville has called up three training players in Alana Cook, Mel Lawley and Chloe Kelly.

Neville said: “It will be great to be back in front of our fans again after two away matches. I know playing in Middlesbrough will mean passionate support and the big crowd we’re expecting shows just how much the team connected with the public in the summer. This game – and the match at Wembley against Germany in November – will be our chance to say ‘thank you’ to them.

“For us as a coaching team we are working towards Euro 2021 and every camp is vital for our tournament preparation. We cannot afford to waste a day and those players we have picked are aware there are others pushing them hard for their spot. With the Olympics also coming next summer, we know we have to finish an excellent year of progress on a high.”

With just under a fortnight to go, more than 23,000 tickets have now been sold for the Brazil match, which kicks off at 12.45pm. It will see The FA working with the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation to raise vital awareness of a cause close to captain Steph Houghton.

Her husband Stephen Darby was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year. He has since devoted his time to the charity that bears his name along with his friend Chris Rimmer in order to support others. A new website will be launched next month to help in this aim – www.darbyrimmermnd.co.uk

The Portugal fixture, which kicks off at 7pm, will be played at the Bonfim Stadium home of Primeira Liga club Vitória FC in Setúbal, just outside Lisbon.