Duggan withdraws from England squad for Wembley sell-out v Germany

England defender Gemma Bonner says she “never thought it would be a reality” to play at Wembley – “the pinnacle” -after being called into the squad for Saturday’s friendly against Germany.

Bonner was called up after Atletico Madrid forward Toni Duggan was forced to withdraw through injury.

With a sell-out at the 90,000-seat Wembley stadium it will be a record crowd for a Lionesses’ home match.

“Saturday is going to be on another level,” Bonner told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“You grow up thinking Wembley is kind of the pinnacle. Especially as a young girl growing up, you never ever thought it would be a reality [to play there].

“We have worked so hard for so many years, to actually get the game to this place and for people to pay to come and watch [is amazing].

“As a player, you just want to play in the best stadiums, on the best pitches, in front of as many people as possible and I think Wembley epitomises all of that.

“Just saying that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck – 90,000 people, for women’s football, it’s crazy,” she added.

Bonner was on the bench at Wembley in May when her Manchester City side beat West Ham 3-0 to lift the FA Cup for a second time in three years, and she said you could “feel the atmosphere and feel the occasion.”

The 28-year-old now believes “people are starting to respect” the women’s game and can “relate on a more personal level”.

“When you watch women’s football, you see players that have never played for the money, have never played for any other motive than that they love the game and they want to be the best that they can be,” said Bonner.

“People are starting to respect that from the outside – in terms of the honesty, the hard work that we’ve put in, the sacrifices, all the decisions that we’ve made in our lives to get to the position and be on the platform that we’re now on. We’re more accessible to the crowd.”

Wembley occasion a ‘scary thought’

While excitement levels are high for Saturday’s friendly, Bonner’s Manchester City teammate Ellie Roebuck, 20, says playing in front of so many people is “quite a scary thought too”.

Goalkeeper Roebuck, who started the recent friendly victory over Portugal, is one of the youngest members of the squad and her first memory of Wembley was being a mascot for the England men’s team.

“I must have been seven years old,” Roebuck told BBC Radio 5 Live. “My memory after that was watching Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final against Burnley and we lost 1-0.

“It’s not been the best track record for watching games, however being part of the Manchester City squad, we have won every time. So I hope that doesn’t change.

“It’s an unbelievable thought [to be playing in front of 90,000 people] but quite a scary thought too. I’m sure we are not going to be able to hear ourselves think.”

Duggan misses out yet again

Phil Neville is taking a 23-player squad to Wembley, which includes Manchester City duo Bonner and Georgia Stanway, who were called up on Friday after training with the team at St George’s Park throughout the week.

Duggan, 28, missed the friendly defeat by Brazil and victory over Portugal in October and was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s game with a lower back injury.

But Neville is not short of attacking options as he welcomes back World Cup star Ellen White, who is in line to make her first appearance since scoring six goals at the tournament this summer.

Chelsea centre-back Millie Bright also returns after missing the two friendlies in October and team-mate Beth England has earned another call-up after scoring twice and assisting one goal in four Women’s Super League appearances this season.

England squad to face Germany:

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Carly Telford

Defenders: Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, Lucy Bronze, Abbie McManus, Steph Houghton (C), Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Gemma Bonner

Midfielders: Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott, Lucy Staniforth, Keira Walsh, Leah Williamson

Forwards: Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp, Nikita Parris, Jodie Taylor, Ellen White, Beth England, Georgia Stanway