Bright and Scott recalled

Chelsea captain Millie Bright and Manchester City midfielder Jill Scott return to the England squad ahead of the Lionesses’ “Road to France” series of friendlies, with just two months to go before the Women’s World Cup.

They did not feature in England’s victorious Shebelieves Cup campaign in the United States. This time Scott’s City team-mate Ellie Roebuck, 19, also returns, along with Reading’s Jade Moore.

Phil Neville’s side play Canada, ranked fifth in the world, at a soldout Academy Stadium in Manchester on April 5, before they host Spain at Swindon Town’s County Ground the following Tuesday. “We’re looking forward to playing in front of our fans in different parts of the country,” said Neville.

“We’re expecting two tough matches, but we need to be tested as we step up our preparations. Winning the Shebelieves Cup was fantastic, but we’re now looking to improve and push on further. We have four matches before flying out to France and I want to emphasise that the door is not shut to any player with World Cup ambitions.”

England will host Denmark at Walsall in May before the visit of New Zealand to Brighton in June.

England squad (v Canada and Spain): Goalkeepers

Bardsley, Roebuck (Man City), Earps (Wolfsburg), Telford (Chelsea). Defenders Bright (Chelsea), Bronze (Lyon), Daly (Houston Dash), Greenwood (Man Utd), Houghton, Mcmanus, Stokes (all Man City), Williamson (Arsenal), Staniforth (Birmingham). Midfielders Carney (Chelsea), Moore (Reading), Scott, Stanway, Walsh (all Man City).

Forwards Duggan (Barcelona), Kirby (Chelsea), Mead (Arsenal), Parris (Man City), Taylor (Reign FC), Ubogagu (Orlando Pride), White (Birmingham).