Is Clinton pushing for England start at Euro 2025?

Calls for Grace Clinton to interruption into England's starting XI for Euro 2025 volition lone summation aft yet different awesome show successful their triumph implicit Switzerland.

The Manchester United midfielder was connected the scoresheet again - her 3rd extremity successful 5 appearances - arsenic the Lionesses claimed a 1-0 triumph astatine Bramall Lane.

It ends a play of experimentation by brag Sarina Wiegman arsenic she prepares them for the defence of their European rubric successful Switzerland adjacent summer.

From switching formations and rotating her players, she has been fixed plentifulness to deliberation astir - and Clinton's inclusion volition surely beryllium precocious connected her list.

"In the archetypal fractional especially, she felt precise comfy and players adjacent to her felt precise comfy - that was truly bully to see," said Wiegman.

"What I would similar to spot much from her is that she sees the wide picture, adjacent erstwhile the gait of the crippled is faster than it was tonight.

"You tin archer she is connected the mode and is improving. Hopefully she keeps showing that and besides [shows it] with her club."

Clinton made her people successful Sheffield wrong 8 minutes, firing successful the victor erstwhile she reacted quickest aft Millie Turner's header had rebounded disconnected the post.

It was a 2nd commencement successful this four-game affable play and a 2nd extremity for Clinton aft she besides shone successful a 2-1 triumph implicit South Africa successful October.

It has been a accelerated emergence for the 21-year-old, who had 2 palmy spells connected indebtedness astatine Bristol City and Tottenham, earlier returning to United successful the summertime and becoming a cardinal subordinate nether manager Marc Skinner.

Former England striker Ellen White said past period Clinton "should" beryllium successful the starting XI much regularly - but the adjacent measurement is playing her against apical opposition.

She was near retired of the broadside for the goalless gully with the USA connected Saturday and October's decision by Germany - some astatine Wembley Stadium.

"She needs to beryllium enactment against apical midfield players," White told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I'm not saying domestically she doesn't play against apical players, but internationally [she needs] to beryllium successful among it astatine Wembley.

"We saw a batch from her [against South Africa]. What I similar is she has got a wholly antithetic illustration to what we person seen successful a midfielder for galore years.

"She is strong, she is powerful, she tin spell box-to-box. She is technical, she holds the shot up, she does precise elemental passes, she does truly bully agelong passes.

"She has a bully illustration that I deliberation we are missing successful the mediate for England. She is truly knocking connected Sarina's doorway to accidental 'start me'."

But portion Clinton has yet to beryllium tested connected the biggest stages, she has stepped up to the sheet nether Wiegman and ex-midfielder Karen Carney said she is "really starting to instrumentality hold" of her presumption successful the squad.

Former striker Ian Wright added: "Grace Clinton is much than acceptable for this level. I would similar to spot her play more."

Wiegman has been criticised antecedently for her enactment choices, often opting for experienced players and acquainted starting XIs.

But she made 10 changes successful the triumph implicit Switzerland, handing retired elder debuts to Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown, arsenic good arsenic archetypal starts for Millie Turner and Aggie Beever-Jones.

She was asked astir the performances of respective individuals successful her post-match property league and tried to debar singling radical out, making a constituent of praising Jess Park erstwhile prompted to sermon Clinton's display.

"I deliberation [Clinton's] improving well," added Wiegman. "She had to bash a mates of things too. She had a bully game, she's had much bully games.

"The adjacent measurement is to get into the squad much often and get consistency. I was truly blessed with her. You tin truly spot that she's developing.

"But I besides thought Jess Park made a quality today."

Manchester United manager Skinner said successful November helium had nary doubts Clinton would "put herself successful the champion imaginable position" for regular England selection, but was cautious not to unreserved her planetary development.

There is contention for places, with regular starters Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway mainstays successful Wiegman's team, portion Park and injured midfielder Ella Toone are beardown fig 10 options.

Leicester's Mace besides looked astatine location successful a holding midfield relation against Switzerland, adding to Wiegman's options.

"You cognize what we're similar successful England, we recognise talent, enactment it connected a pedestal and past say, 'off you go', and we effort sprout it down," said Skinner successful November.

"[Clinton] plays the crippled with enjoyment and that's my job, to support Grace successful that space. When she's successful that space, she volition bash each she tin to beryllium selected by England."

England volition find retired their Euro 2025 group-stage opponents erstwhile the gully takes spot successful Switzerland connected 16 December.

Before Euro 2025, they indispensable navigate different Women's Nations League campaign, wherever they volition face satellite champions Spain, arsenic good arsenic Belgium and Portugal.

"When you are successful these competitions and playing each 3 oregon 4 days, physicality is simply a large thing," said erstwhile England skipper Steph Houghton.

"What I spot from Grace Clinton is that quality to get back, support and beryllium a beingness successful the box. Now, she is adding goals to her game.

"She hasn't had acquisition but implicit these adjacent six months it is truthful important that Sarina gives her that accidental to nail down that position."