Gabby George gets senior England call up

Gabby George had planned on watching today’s England World Cup qualifier game with coach Andy Spence in the stands but turns out she will be a part of the team instead. The Everton defender was added to the squad after Liverpool Ladies player Casey Stoney withdrew with an injury.

It will be the first senior call up for the 20-year-old and it will take place in front of a sell out crowd.

Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

The defender has been with Everton since 2014 and has started every game this season so far. She has helped the Blues win four clean sheets with her defensive tackling and her physical style of play.

The Blue Girl has played on England’s youth teams and is now focused on making the senior team for the World Cup in 2019.

The seriousness of the situation is not lost on George:

“I am obviously really proud and it means a lot to me. Ever since I got called up to England at Under-17s level, it has been a goal and an ambition to make the seniors, but now it’s a reality and it’s hard to put it into words.”

Coach Andy Spence supports George’s ambition and what it means for the club:

“Over the years she has never been shy in telling me she wants to be an England senior player, which is brilliant for me to hear as a coach because it shows the ambition of her and, albeit she is only 20 years of age now, to have that first call-up is fantastic and we’re so proud to have her at Everton.

She has played a lot of WSL football ahead of her years but she has been at the right club to give her that chance, and that’s probably why she is in this position now.

It is important for her to learn as much as possible, bring that back to the club, and for us to keep pushing her to get better for Everton and make sure this is the first of many call-ups.”

Interim coach Mo Marley’s team will also face Kazakhstan at Weston Homes Community Stadium on Tuesday (7.05pm KO).

You can watch both games on BBC Two and cheer Gabby on!

Yo Gabby Gabby!

England vs Bosnia

#FIFAWWC qualifier

When: November 24th at 7:05pm

Where: Banks's Stadium, Walsall

Watch: BBC Two

Listen: BBC Radio 5Live Sports Extra

Follow: @BBCTwo @Lionesses

Neale Blackburn (Watford Ladies FC)