Goodwin, Hemp and Potter stake England claims ahead of Wiegman's squad
Just over a week before Sarina Wiegman names her Lionesses squad for October's World Cup playoff tie against Greece, several England hopefuls used the WSL weekend to press their cases for a senior call-up.
Goodwin makes her England case
England Under-23 international Isobel Goodwin strengthened her claims for a first senior selection as she scored twice for London City Lionesses in a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Charlton. The 23-year-old, who linked up well with Alexia Putellas, scored five times in the WSL last term but will be keen to exceed that this season and impress Wiegman.
Her timing is good. With Chelsea's Aggie Beever-Jones out with a minor ankle injury and Arsenal's Michelle Agyemang still returning from an ACL problem, Wiegman may be considering alternative options for a backup striker to Alessia Russo for the key fixtures.
Hemp adds goals to her game
Lauren Hemp had not scored in the WSL since last November, but the England winger decisively found the net twice on Friday night in Manchester City's 4-2 win over Liverpool. The WSL's leading assist-provider in 2023-24 and 2024-25, Hemp nearly had a hat-trick but saw an early, rising strike tipped over the bar by Khiara Keating.
City manager Andrée Jeglertz heaped praise on her, telling Sky Sports: "She's an amazing player. I don't know what she's made of, because she just loves to be on the field and looks like she has so much energy. She's a gamechanger."
Potter shines in Chelsea's midfield
Amid debate over whether young English players are being hampered by limited opportunities in the WSL, 20-year-old Lexi Potter is a talent catching the eye at the heart of Chelsea's midfield. A 2-0 win over Birmingham City was her second start in as many matches, and she produced another assured performance, opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge with an alert finish to the second ball in the area.
Her calmness, ability to work in tight spaces and the timing of her runs into the box are huge assets, as is her burgeoning relationship with Keira Walsh. "They understand each other, and even when they are on the pitch and they close their eyes, they know where each other is," manager Sonia Bompastor said. Like Goodwin, Potter may have done enough to catch Wiegman's eye.