Why Lauren James & Rachel Daly haven't started either of England's February friendlies against Austria and Italy as Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman explains absences

England kicked off the year with a warm-weather camp in Spain, taking on Austria and Italy in a pair of friendlies as part of that. Lionesses' boss Wiegman experimented with her starting lineups for the games, but some were surprised to see James and Daly on the bench on both occasions.

Ahead of England's meeting with Italy on Tuesday, Wiegman was asked by ITV why James and Daly have started both matches as substitutes. "It's competition, it's getting ready for [qualifiers in] April, it's seeing a lot of things and then making up your mind, who's going to start and who you can also bring off the bench," she explained. "When you get all these things on the table, then you make decisions and we start with this team today."

Wiegman has given opportunities to several different players in February, with Hannah Hampton and Lotte Wubben-Moy among those to get rare starts in the two games while a debut was handed to Grace Clinton, the talented young midfielder who scored against Austria and then kept her place in the team for the clash with Italy.

Daly won the Women's Super League's Golden Boot last season after scoring 22 times in as many games for Aston Villa. James, meanwhile, could succeed her in winning the award this term as she is second only to Manchester City Khadija Shaw in the scoring charts, with 12 goals in 13 appearances for Chelsea in the WSL.

With attention soon to turn back to club football, James and Daly will hope they have impressed Wiegman in their opportunities from the bench in February, with both firmly involved in goals in England's 7-2 rout over Austria on Friday.