Mary Earps starts Lionesses' first game of 2025 as England boss Sarina Wiegman selects Grace Clinton in Georgia Stanway's injury absence

Mary Earps starts ahead of Hannah Hampton in the Lionesses' first game of 2025 as the battle to be England No.1 resumes against Portugal.

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Article continues below

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• Earps gets England start ahead of Hampton
• Clinton and Toone in Stanway-less midfield
• James to play first Lionesses game since April

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Earps and Hampton are neck-and-neck in the race to be England's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of this summer's European Championships and it is the former who has been granted the first opportunity to show Sarina Wiegman why she should win that battle, in the Lionesses' first game of their new Nations League campaign.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  One of Wiegman's most interesting decisions for Friday night's game away at Portugal is in midfield, due to the injury absence of Georgia Stanway. The Bayern Munich star had knee surgery at the end of January and is expected to be out for several months, and it is 21-year-old Grace Clinton who Wiegman has turned to to fill her boots in the No.8 role in Portugal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ella Toone has got the nod in the No.10 position which means that Jess Park, who often plays in midfield at Manchester City, will operate from the wing instead. Lauren James starts on the opposite flank in what will be her first appearance for England since April, with Chelsea team-mate Niamh Charles also back in the Lionesses' line-up after her return from injury.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  England's second game of this international break will be played on Wednesday, when they welcome Spain, the world champions, to Wembley for a rematch of the 2023 Women's World Cup final.