BLUES Ladies skipper Laura Bassett has been called up to the England senior squad for their winter training camp in La Manga, Spain.

The Redditch-based side's captain will jet out with Hope Powell's squad after City's County Cup trip to West Bromwich Ladies on Sunday, January 19.

Bassett will be back in the UK the follwing Saturday, 24 hours before either the resumption of National Division fixtures or an FA Cup tie against Blackburn or Middlesbrough.

Bassett was a non playing member of Powell's last squad - for the second leg of the World Cup qualifying play-off against France which saw England miss out on a place in China.

Powell's side face a year of friendly fixtures because they have qualified automatically for the 2005 UEFA Eurpean Championships as hosts.