First England call-up for Birmingham City's Jade Moore
Last updated on .From the section Football
Hope Powell has handed Birmingham City's Jade Moore a surprise 21st birthday present with a first call-up to the England squad.
Moore has been drafted in for the Euro 2013 qualifier against Holland in Zwolle on 27 October, five days after her birthday.
"When I got the e-mail telling me I'd been selected," said the Blues midfielder. "I couldn't comprehend it. I thought, 'is this really for me?'
"It still hasn't sunk in completely."
She added: "I'm really looking forward to being part of the senior squad for the first time."
Moore has played at Under-17, U-19 and U-23 levels for England and also appeared at the last two U-20 World Cups.
She is one of five Birmingham players in Powell's squad, which also has former Blues striker Eni Aluko back after missing the qualifiers against Serbia and Slovenia.
But captain Faye White, striker Kelly Smith and midfielder Anita Asante are all still injured and unavailable for a game that England cannot afford to lose, despite it being only the third qualifying group match.
Since Powell's team surprisingly dropped two points to Serbia, an improved Dutch team beat the Serbs 6-0.
England defeated Holland in the Euro 2009 semi-final but have not met them since. "We always knew the Dutch would be our biggest challenge," said the England coach.
"They've changed manager and style since the Euro finals and they're now a more attacking side, which suits them because they've got some talented players.
"Unfortunately we'll be playing on 3G (artificial turf), but it is what it is and we're going to have to practise on that surface."
England squad: Bardsley (New Jersey Sky Blue), Brown (Everton), Chamberlain (Bristol Academy), Bradley (Lincoln), A. Scott (Boston Breakers), Stoney (Lincoln), Susi (Birmingham City), Unitt (Everton), Whelan (Everton), Bassett (Birmingham City), Buet (Chelsea), Carney (Birmingham City), Clarke (Lincoln), Houghton (Arsenal), J. Scott (Everton), F. Williams (Everton), Moore (Birmingham City), Yankey (Arsenal), Aluko (New Jersey Sky Blue), Dowie (Everton), R. Williams (Birmingham City), E. White (Arsenal).
