Laura Blindkilde Brown proud to receive first Lionesses call-up

Laura Blindkilde Brown was delighted to receive a call from Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman earlier this month as the 21 year old was rewarded with her first-ever call up to the senior squad.

The Manchester City midfielder described the moment she was told the news by Wiegman, via a phone call ahead of the upcoming international camp.

“I was just in my apartment – I think I was watching a film – and I saw that Sarina was ringing me,” said Blindkilde Brown. “I answered the call, and she told me the news. When she called me and told me the news, I was just feeling really proud and really excited.

“I phoned my family straight away and they were really proud of me as well. I was very overwhelmed with it all but obviously, in a good way.”

The former Aston Villa and Birmingham City starlet was joined at St George’s Park by club teammates Alex Greenwood, Chloe Kelly – both of whom were part of Wiegman’s EURO 2022 winning squad – and Jess Park who also made Wiegman’s 24-player squad for England’s upcoming internationals against the USA and Switzerland.

“When I told them, they were really excited for me,” explained Blindkilde Brown. “They said it’s one of the greatest honours. They told me to come in and have fun but also work really hard basically. For them to be here, it’s really nice and it settles me a bit more.

“I think I’ve put in some good performances at City which definitely helped. It’s something you always dream of, so for it to happen was just really nice.”

Blindkilde Brown has previously represented England at under-17 and under-19 level before making her debut for the under-23s in September 2022, scoring her first goal for the Young Lionesses the following year.

And she believes her experience will stand her in good stead, as she looks to emulate the success of some of her new England teammates.

Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown speak to the media live from St. George's Park! https://t.co/mJZersRRbd

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 25, 2024

“The WU23s really align with what the seniors are doing, so it does make the step up easier,” she said. “It also shows that there is a pathway from the WU23s to the seniors because the likes of Grace (Clinton) and Aggie (Beever-Jones) have made the step up as well.”

Blindkilde Brown, who was called up to represent her country for the first time alongside Leicester City’s Ruby Mace, could make her debut for the women’s senior team. And if called upon, the youngster – described as “very talented” by the England boss, along with Mace – is ready and raring to go.

“Sarina said, ‘we’re happy with how you’re doing at City and some of the performances with the WU23s and we just want you to come in and compete straight away and just work really hard,’” she recalled.

“The profile of Sarina, she’s a really good coach and won the EUROs, so she knows how to win tournaments and I’m excited to train under her.”