The Brighton forward had been in international wilderness for over two years until last week – and she could be just what Sarina Wiegman's side need
For the first time in 10 months, England's Lionesses go into an international break this week with two recognised strikers in their squad. Since Rachel Daly's shock retirement from national-team duties last April – and in the build-up to it, in truth – the onus has been on Alessia Russo more and more in the No.9 role, with not-so-natural options filling in the gaps where needed. But Nikita Parris' recall to the England set-up this month, after over two years in the international wilderness, is a positive sign in the build-up to this summer's European Championship.
It's a clear indication that Wiegman recognises that the lack of depth behind Russo needs addressing ahead of England's title defence in Switzerland and perhaps even that, having failed to find the back of the net in her last five appearances for the Lionesses, the Arsenal star needs more competition for her place, as Daly provided before the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Parris might not have played for her country since November 2022 and, at times, it might have looked like her England career was over. But she could well be exactly what Russo, Wiegman and the Lionesses need as they prepare for a huge few months, starting with a new Nations League campaign which kicks off on Friday.
Getty Images SportNo established back-up
Wiegman has tried other options in the No.9 role since Daly's retirement. When that news broke, Aggie Beever-Jones looked like she could be next up. Naturally a winger but a player who has played as a striker often enough at Chelsea, and at youth level with England, she had a fantastic 2023-24 season, scoring 11 Women's Super League goals despite just six of her 17 appearances being starts. Unsurprisingly, her first senior England call-up came in May. More surprisingly, though, is that she has struggled for opportunities, winning just two caps despite being in the squad for eight separate games amid the obvious need for more depth behind Russo.
Jessica Naz, the 24-year-old Tottenham forward, has had more chances leading the line, even starting November’s huge friendly against the United States at Wembley. However, she primarily plays as a winger for Spurs and it is there that her qualities seem to be best-suited.
There have been other players who have moved up front when needed. Jess Park, who played as a No.9 in her youth, was deployed in a front two in December, while Lauren Hemp, missing from this camp due to injury, has often seemed to be Wiegman's 'break in case of emergency' option there. But the weight of expectation is currently almost exclusively on Russo to score goals from that centre-forward position for England.
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Of course, there should be expectation and pressure on England's No.9. We're talking about the European champions, a team that reached the last World Cup final and one that ranks as one of the best international sides in the women's game. But Russo could still do with some support.
At the Euros in 2022, Ellen White was the Lionesses' starting striker, but she was backed up brilliantly by Russo, who excelled as a super-sub in the tournament, so much so that she actually scored four goals to White's two. England need some sort of support for Russo like that which she provided three years ago, someone who can take the baton in the final stages of the game, someone who can grant her a rest but still step in and provide a goal threat.
Moreover, the Lionesses need someone who can come into the position and genuinely score goals. Injuries to key players like Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Beth Mead, plus Lauren James' prolonged absence from the team, mean that goals are not coming as reliably from other forwards right now. That makes the importance of the No.9 even greater.
Getty Images SportTaking another direction
When Daly stepped away from England duty, it felt like there were two roads Wiegman could take. She could allow someone like Beever-Jones, a young and exciting talent with a bright future but a lack of experience, to become second-in-line for the centre-forward position, or she could turn to an experienced goal-scorer, like Parris or Bethany England, the latter of whom she took to the 2023 Women's World Cup because of those qualities and her sensational form for Tottenham.
Wiegman appears to have gone down the first route but, for whatever reason, Beever-Jones just hasn't become as prominent yet as many might've expected. The 21-year-old is clearly talented and likely just needs some more time to develop into what the coach wants her to be in this team. So, given the lack of depth at centre-forward remains, it makes sense for the coach to now look down the other road, especially given the importance of this imminent Nations League campaign and the fact that the Euros is right around the corner.
Getty ImagesKnocking on the door
England will surely feel disappointed that, as Wiegman looked to turn to an experienced and proven goal-scorer, it wasn't herself who got the call this month. Scorer of seven of Spurs' 19 league goals this season, despite starting just 11 games, the 30-year-old felt ahead of Parris in the pecking order given her call-up to the World Cup came some six months after the Brighton forward's most recent inclusion in a Lionesses squad.
Perhaps Wiegman will yet take another look at England. She has a chance to evaluate Parris at this camp and then there are two more before the Euros comes around. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the Spurs star, given her current form and previous experience, could also get a look in.
