Lionesses Esme Morgan and Lucia Kendall speak in latest England camp | OneFootball

England Lionesses are back together for the first time since their Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland back in July. As Sarina Wiegman’s side prepare for their next round of matches, this camp saw a range of players take part in media-facing activities.

We spoke with European champion and NWSL star Esme Morgan, as well as Lionesses debutant and ambitious midfielder Lucia Kendall.

Morgan made the move from Manchester City to Washington Spirit in 2024. Despite having a year left on her contract, City opted to get a fee for the versatile defender. However, impressive performances, an enthusiasm to push play up the pitch and being a supportive teammate have all kept Morgan within the England setup.

She travels back to home soil for each camp. When asked if she’d had a chat with the manager yet this camp, Morgan said: “She [Wiegman] gives me a few days to get over jet lag before talking to me.”

Esme Morgan on the highs of success with England Lionesses

Morgan is very calm and measured with her words. The 25-year-old, having been in the England pathway since 2017, has experienced a lot, including winning the Euros in 2025. However, she didn’t get much time to marvel in her achievement, as the NWSL calendar meant she was returned to her club soon after the bus parade.

“Going from being on a bus in front of 65,000 people down the Mall to just feeding my cat again was a swift comeback down to earth,” Morgan admitted. “Post-tournament, there’s a little bit of a comedown because you’ve achieved a dream. Certainly I felt that going back to club was a little bit like ‘wow’.

“It’s hard to want to keep going and going again when you’ve achieved something so much. But then you re-find the hunger to want to win because it’s such an addictive feeling.”

Looking forward to the future, Morgan said: “The World Cup is the absolute pinnacle. Everyone wants to be able to look back on their career and say that they’ve won that.”

It feels like this elite squad of players is in a transition but with young players like Morgan coming in with such experience, the next generation already have players who can guide them despite only a few years difference in age.

Lucia Kendall enjoys first Lionesses press conference

As Millie Bright declared her retirement from international football last week, we saw a new face in England’s future talk to the press. England debutant and newbie to the Lionesses setup, Lucia Kendall, hasn’t let this sway her from being cool.

Although the England debutant missed Wiegman’s call to tell her she had been selected for this squad, she wasn’t expecting it at all.

“It’s surreal really, I don’t think it’s really sunk in. I’m just here to learn as much as possible,” the 21-year-old said when confidently experiencing her first international press conference.

Kendall joined Aston Villa from the WSL2 club Southampton in the summer. Her club starts in the top tier have been so impressive and her experience within the international pathway of English football was enough for Wiegman to include her for the friendlies against Brazil and Australia.

Kendall is possibly the midfield squad player Wiegman has been looking out for. She mainly plays in midfield as a No.10, having previously scored 21 goals in 78 matches for Southampton. However, she is versatile and can also toplay the No.6 and No.8 role.

“I wouldn’t pigeonhole myself to a position,” she said. “I played in the 10 at Southampton and I’ve been playing as more of a defensive midfielder at Villa. I’d like to say that I can play any of those three roles, probably more naturally a little bit more defensive, but I want to be able to play all three positions in that midfield.”

Coming up next for England Lionesses

England will play two international friendlies this month. They first face Brazil at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on October 25th, before taking on Australia at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday, October 28th.

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