Erica Meg Parkinson left ‘speechless’ by maiden England call from Sarina Wiegman

England boss Sarina Wiegman says teenager Erica Meg Parkinson was “speechless” when she received her maiden call-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Seventeen-year-old Parkinson, who has been named in the Lionesses squad to face world champions Spain at Wembley on April 14 before they meet Iceland in Reykjavik four days later, was born in Singapore and plays her domestic football for Portuguese first division side Valadares Gaia.

With midfielders Grace Clinton and Ella Toone out injured, Wiegman decided to give her a chance and while the head coach does not expect Parkinson to go straight into the starting line-up, she hopes she can use her time in the camp as a learning opportunity.

Speaking at St George’s Park on Tuesday, Wiegman said: “We called her up because we are a little bit low in depth in midfield with injuries to Ella Toone and Grace Clinton.

“So we have to look at who’s next and Erica has gone through the pathway, plays in Portugal, has done well in the under-23s. She is a very dynamic midfielder who likes to go forward… aggressive, technical.

“It’s a big step from the 23s and the Portuguese competition to go into the senior level but she gets the chance to show where she stands at our level.

“She was speechless she said, but very happy, surprised and excited of course.

“She’s ready to come in. For every young player it is a step up, we’re not going to force anything. She’s going to come in and show and hope she’s going to enjoy it.

“I don’t expect her to come into the starting line-up straight away. It’s a learning thing for her but I do hope she can adapt to the level needed in our senior environment.”

Captain Leah Williamson has not featured in any of Arsenal’s last three matches with a hamstring injury but was included in Wiegman’s 23-player squad.

There are still two weeks to go until England face Spain, and Wiegman thinks the defender will be ready.

She added: “Leah comes from the injury after the Euros, coming back she had some small setbacks but overall has done very well and when she’s played she has played very well.

“We have been careful with her and so have Arsenal. I think she’s going to make it that’s why we put her in the squad.

“I would put her in the squad anyway because she’s in a good place. The niggles she’s picked up are not the worst but her past and where she’s come from, we have to be careful but friendlies I would’ve called her up anyway.”

Earlier this month FIFA passed groundbreaking regulations which will now require every team participating in its women’s tournaments to have a female head coach or assistant.

Wiegman said: “We need to give women more opportunities to develop and educate. This rule supports and hopefully accelerates the balance between males and females in our sport.”