Katie Zelem is one of five Manchester United players named in the England squad for this month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Latvia.
The midfielder is set to make her debut for England at senior level which will be a fantastic personal milestone. And it’s set up for the women’s team first ever competitive game at Wembley.
Zelem is pleased to see plenty of Manchester United representation this time around and she says that it is a sign of the club’s progression, although there is no denying that the women’s team took a blow in the summer when Casey Stoney left her role as manager.
Marc Skinner replaced Stoney ahead of the 2021/22 WSL season.
“I think it is a well-known thing that Manchester City have got some great English talent so no wonder there is always so many of their girls selected,” Zelem told FAWSL Full-Time.
“For myself and the (United) girls here, I am so proud of them and so proud of what Manchester United have achieved in being able to progress with the amount of players that they have got in the England squad. It’s five now, that’s such a great achievement.
“I am really happy for the girls.”
Saturday’s fixture against Northern Ireland is going to be played at Wembley and Zelem is really excited for the occasion.
She added: “It’s huge for us, it’s a huge stepping stone. You can see with the progression of women’s football what direction it is going in. For us, playing at Wembley in front of our friends, family and fans is incredible.
“We are all so excited for it, it is something that you dream of as a kid really and for it to be the first competitive game that we’ve played at Wembley makes it even more special for each and every one of us.”
The World Cup in 2023 are scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand.
England are top of their 2023 qualifying group and have injuries to usual starters, including the captain, Steph Houghton, the right-back, Lucy Bronze, and the goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck.
