Robertson & Maguire selected for Great Britain

Great Britain Women’s Head Coach Danny Kerry has named a squad of 20 athletes ahead of the Investec Private Banking International against Japan on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 April. The final 18 athletes will be selected on the morning of the events as both teams head back to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the first time since London 2012.

Scotland’s Emily Maguire and Sarah Robertson are included in the squad, with the latter being afforded an opportunity from Head Coach Danny Kerry to press home a claim for a squad berth in the forthcoming FIH World League 3 competition,

“We’ve given an opportunity to young Scotland international Sarah Robertson to stake a claim for a place in the World League squad and we have also brought Helen Richardson-Walsh back into the fold for a capped match following a long period of rehabilitation to vie for a place in the squad that goes to Valencia.”

“We’ve given an opportunity to young Scotland international Sarah Robertson to stake a claim for a place in the World League squad and we have also brought Helen Richardson-Walsh back into the fold for a capped match following a long period of rehabilitation to vie for a place in the squad that goes to Valencia”, said Kerry.

“Japan will set us a number of different tactical challenges with an Asian style of play which will feel different to our playing group. This type of experience is great for the development of the team. All the coaching staff are looking forward to seeing how we play given a good period of focussed and intense training over the last few months.”

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(Sarah Robertson is named in the GB squad against Japan. Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

14 of the 20 athletes named by Kerry were part of the squad who travelled to Spain for a three match series – which Great Britain won, back in February. There is a call up for Leicester goalkeeper Sabbie Heesh who has impressed since joining the training squad, the 23-year-old will be hoping to win her second senior international cap.

If selected, Helen Richardson-Walsh will reach 250 combined international caps when she takes to the field against Japan. The last time the Reading midfielder represented her country was over a year ago when the squad played the USA out in San Diego. Since then, Richardson-Walsh has struggled with a back injury, but has been back in full time training since the start of the year.

Great Britain have only played Japan eight times and their record against the Cherry Blossoms makes for pretty good reading – won six and lost two. The home side have also got 24 goals to their name and have conceded just eight times. England’s star striker Alex Danson has been on target three times in the teams’ last two meetings; a 3-0 victory at the 2012 Champions Trophy when teammate Helen Richardson-Walsh was also on target and then later that year the forward bagged a brace on Olympic Park during London 2012 when Kerry’s side ran out 4-0 winners in the pool stages.

Investec Private Banking Internationals – Great Britain v Japan

Maddie Hinch

Holcombe

Sabbie Heesh

Leicester

Emily Maguire

Reading

Kate Richardson-Walsh

Reading

Hollie Webb

Surbiton

Giselle Ansley

Surbiton

Zoe Shipperley

Buckingham

Laura Unsworth

Holcombe

Helen Richardson-Walsh

Reading

Georgie Twigg

Surbiton

Shona McCallin

Slough

Susie Gilbert

Reading

Susannah Townsend

Canterbury

Lily Owsley

University of Birmingham

Joie Leigh

Clifton

Alex Danson

Reading

Sophie Bray

East Grinstead

Hannah Macleod

St Albans

Sarah Robertson

Holcombe

Ellie Watton

St Albans

 

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