ENGLAND boss Sarina Wiegman says Chloe Kelly’s place in the squad was not in doubt, despite the winger’s recent lack of minutes for Manchester City.

Kelly was an unused substitute for City’s last two matches, the 2-0 Champions League win over Barcelona last Wednesday and Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

The 26-year-old famously scored England’s winner in their Euro 2022 final victory over Germany at Wembley and has made Wiegman’s 25-player squad for a friendly against the same opposition at the same venue a week on Friday.

Wiegman, whose side play a friendly against South Africa at the Coventry Arena four days later, told a press conference: “She’s in a hard position.

“I think City are in a very good position, which shows they have stepped up with the quality, we saw that last week.

“There’s huge competition going on there, it’s the very highest level, and she’s competing for that too, not getting the minutes she of course hopes for and we do. But she built credit with us and she wasn’t in doubt for us to bring her in.”

Wiegman was asked if she had had a conversation with Kelly about potentially leaving City and said: “No. Playing minutes is very important, because how are we going to pick you? And it’s competing at the club too.

“It’s really good that the level of clubs is so high that you have to be at the top, top level to be playing.

“Of course, also it’s about talent, quality, it’s about playing minutes, it’s about the competition, the opposition, and Chloe built some credit with us too. So it’s not just black and white.

“It’s of course so much better when you get the minutes, because that brings you to the level necessary. Of course it’s her career and all players know it’s absolutely helpful to get minutes.”