Sarina Wiegman has said that Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly weren’t showing ‘the levels’ after dropping them from her Lionesses squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifier matches.Both Toone and Kelly have been among Wiegman’s most trusted players since the Dutch coach took charge in 2020, making their omission a surprise to many Lionesses supporters.Kelly has started just one of Arsenal’s four opening league games this season and has been dropped by Wiegman before, in February 2025, after lack of game time at her former side Manchester City.Toone meanwhile has had a difficult start to her season under new Manchester United manager Eva Olid, and was dropped for their match against Arsenal two weeks ago – although returned to the starting XI for their subsequent game against West Ham.Wiegman said: ‘The main reason is that I think the levels weren’t what I expect from them on the pitch. I’ve had a conversation with them. There’s big competition going on too.’On whether she felt Toone had been affected by United’s difficult start to the season, where they lost their first two games against London City Lionesses and Chelsea before recording a draw at Arsenal and a win against West Ham: ‘I don’t know. Could be but I think there’s some clubs that had a great start of the season, but I also look at how you execute your own football actions. Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone have been dropped from the Lionesses squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers matches Sarina Wiegman has said that Toone and Kelly weren’t showing ‘the levels’ she expected’At times it’s complicated, but we have to focus on what I can control.’There had been reports stating that Kelly had been struggling with a hamstring injury this season, although Wiegman said: ‘It’s just what I saw on the pitch. We kept it to football.’Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones has also been omitted by Wiegman in a statement of intent from the Dutch coach ahead of this month’s two-legged World Cup semi-final qualifier against Greece.There has also been a first call-up for Chelsea’s Lexi Potter, who has impressed this season alongside Keira Walsh in the heart of the Blues’ midfield.She has started three of Chelsea’s four WSL matches and was particularly impressive in their 1-0 defeat of Arsenal at the weekend.The uncapped Erica Meg Parkinson, 18, has also been recalled after impressing at NWSL side North Carolina Courage since moving in July.