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Mary Earps England 2023Getty
Ameé Ruszkai

Mary Earps is back! Man Utd star returns to England lineup for Italy friendly with Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy rewarded for fine WSL form with rare Lionesses start

M. Earps
England
C. Kelly
Women's football

Mary Earps is back in the Lionesses' XI as they take on Italy, having found herself on the England bench for the first time in a year on Friday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Earps returns to Lionesses' XI
  • Was on bench for first time in a year on Friday
  • Wubben-Moy also starts as England face Italy

  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    After getting a well-earned rest while the Lionesses thrashed Austria 7-2 on Friday, Earps is back in the starting XI for Tuesday's friendly with Italy. Lotte Wubben-Moy, who has been in fine form for Arsenal, is also in the team, making just her third senior start for England and Chloe Kelly is back after recovering from the knock that kept her out of the Austria clash.

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  • WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

    Speaking about the decision to rest Earps on Friday and give Hannah Hampton a rare start instead, Wiegman told ITV: "This is an opportunity [for Hampton] to show herself. She has done well at Chelsea. We know Mary is our No.1 goalkeeper but we need to have an option when something is happening with Mary, [to know] Hannah is ready to go."

  • Mary Earps England Golden Glove Women's World Cup 2023Getty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Hampton did well on Friday, with there nothing she could do about the two goals conceded, and it appears she has now asserted herself as England's second-choice goalkeeper. However, usurping Earps will be an extremely difficult task for the 23-year-old because of how well the Manchester United star has performed in the big moments for Wiegman.

    She has won The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper accolade in each of the last two years, picked up the Golden Glove at the end of last year's World Cup and achieved the highest ever ranking for a goalkeeper in Ballon d'Or Feminin voting just a few months ago, too.

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  • DID YOU KNOW?

    When Wiegman opted to rest Earps on Friday, it was the first time that the 30-year-old had been named on England's bench for over a year. The last time came during the Arnold Clark Cup last February, when Ellie Roebuck started a 2-1 win over Italy.

  • Lotte Wubben-Moy Arsenal 2023-24Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT?

    Earps will hope that her return to the England team is a positive one as the Lionesses look to start the year with back-to-back wins. For Wubben-Moy, it's a rare chance to show her strengths from the get-go and for Kelly, it's an opportunity to stake her claim for a place in the front three, with competition in those areas sky high.