North Carolina Courage midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson has earned a place in England's provisional squad as preparations intensify for next month's Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. The 18-year-old is among 24 players named by head coach Lydia Bedford for a training camp in Portugal, the latest step in the team's build-up to the tournament.
The squad will use the week in Portugal to fine-tune their form before a friendly against the host nation on Thursday, 13 August, which represents the final chance for players to stake their claim before the World Cup squad is confirmed. Bedford is expected to trim three players from the group when she announces her final selection on Thursday, 20 August.
Parkinson's inclusion continues what has been a rapid rise through England's age groups. She featured in Sarina Wiegman's senior squad during fixtures against Spain and Iceland back in April, and has also represented the Under-23s, underlining her development as one of the country's brightest young talents.
She is not the only player with strong club pedigree in the group. Arsenal duo Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale have also been called up, alongside Eva Hendle, who this week completed a loan move to Rangers from Chelsea.
The Portugal camp marks the fourth of the summer for Bedford's side as they sharpen their preparations. Results across the previous get-togethers have been encouraging, with wins over Canada and Colombia, a draw against the United States, and a defeat to Japan giving the coaching staff a clear picture of where the team stands against varied opposition.
England's appearance at this year's Under-20 Women's World Cup will be their first since 2018, ending a lengthy absence from the tournament. They have been drawn in a testing group alongside Brazil, Tanzania and Canada, and will open their campaign against the Canadians on Saturday, 5 September.
Speaking about the squad's progress heading into the tournament, Bedford praised the players' response to a demanding schedule of fixtures. "We've had a really positive summer with some strong performances against top-quality opposition," she said. "The players have embraced every challenge and I'm really pleased with the progress we've made."
She added that the upcoming period would be pivotal for those hoping to secure a place in the final squad. "With the World Cup squad announcement just around the corner, it's an important opportunity for the players to show what they can do," Bedford said.
The Portugal training camp and subsequent friendly will therefore carry significant weight, offering the final auditions before Bedford settles on her 21-player squad for Poland. For fringe members of the group, strong performances against the hosts could prove decisive in securing a World Cup berth.
For Parkinson and her teammates, the coming weeks represent both an opportunity and a challenge as England look to make an impact on their return to the global stage. With a tough group draw awaiting them, Bedford's side will be eager to arrive in Poland with momentum from a summer that has already tested them against some of the game's strongest youth teams.
Attention will now turn to the friendly against Portugal and the subsequent squad announcement, which will shape England's push for success at a tournament they have not featured in for seven years.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.