Hannah Hampton will miss England’s friendly match against Brazil due to injury

Wegman has confirmed that Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh will be the captain for the match at the Etihad Stadium (17:30 GMT) in the absence of Leah Williamson, with the Arsenal defender having not played this season following knee surgery.

Walsh, 28, is a lifelong Manchester City fan and spent eight years at the club before completing a record move to Barcelona in 2022.

“It’s a role that Keira is very deserving of,” Greenwood said. “She’s someone who maybe doesn’t give herself enough credit in the lead role but she’s a huge influence.”

“I’m a little older than Keira and she’s a good friend of mine but she impacts this team so much more than she knows – on and off the field.

“It’s her experience and her high-quality requirements day in and day out.”

It will also be a “very special” night for Greenwood, the Manchester City captain who has never played at the Etihad Stadium for England.

“In a sense, it’s like coming home,” she said. “It will be something I will cherish for a long time. The last time we played in Manchester was in the 2022 European Championships (at Old Trafford) so it’s been a long time coming but this time I get to do it alongside me which is really nice.”

The match against Brazil also marks the start of a new cycle for England as they prepare for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

There are new players in the squad including uncapped Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall, Arsenal defender Taylor Hinds and Liverpool captain Grace Fisk.

There was also a change in the coaching staff, with Wegman’s former right-hand man, Arjan Vjornik, joining the Netherlands as head coach, while Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit moved to the Lionesses as assistant coaches.

“I think it’s important to look at it as a new cycle but we’re not starting over. We’re going to continue where we left off,” Greenwood said.

“Although we have new faces in the group of players and staff, it is important that we do not ignore what we have done and build on that – adding rather than subtracting.

“The sessions have been really fun. It’s really nice to have new ideas. It’s helpful and moves us all forward.”