Emma Hayes has named a 26-player group for March’s tournament, with the Gunners defender Emily Fox firmly in her plans.
Emily Fox has been named in the United States squad for the SheBelieves Cup in March, with the Arsenal defender selected by Emma Hayes as preparations continue ahead of World Cup qualifying later this year.
Fox is included in a 26-player squad for the tournament, which will see the USA face Argentina, Canada and Colombia across three fixtures in early March. The Arsenal full back is listed among nine defenders in the group.
Hayes confirmed she would not call up players who are not currently active for their clubs, addressing the absence of high profile forwards Sophia Wilson and Catarina Macario.
“‘Soph’ and I spoke, and she’s just not ready,” Hayes said. “The return to play protocol, it’s just not given her enough time, I think, for her to be in the place that she wanted to be in. So it’s right that she’s not part of this squad, however much I want her to be.”
On Macario’s situation, Hayes added: “She’s not available for selection yet at Chelsea. ”I don’t know when that is going to come – I don’t know if it’s a week, two, three weeks away.”
The squad also includes established names such as Naomi Girma, Rose Lavelle and Trinity Rodman, with Hayes using the competition as another step towards the autumn’s World Cup qualifying campaign.