England coach gives Neville gives Aluko strict conditions upon which she can return to the team

NIGERIAN-born striker Eniola Aluko has been given stringent conditions upon which she can return to the England team by head coach Phil Neville which include her scoring regularly for her clubside Chelsea Ladies.

Aluko, 31, has not played for the Lionesses since April 2016 and was at the centre of a controversial enquiry which involved the Football Association and the former national coach Mark Sampson, leading to eventual sacking of the coach. Since then, former Manchester United defender Neville has taken over managing the team and is considering inviting her back.

According to Neville, Aluko must play more regularly for her club on one hand and score more goals on the other to earn a place in the national team. Aluko, a 102-cap striker has only played 90 minutes once for Chelsea this season, scoring only four goals in seven appearances.

Neville said: “In terms of being selected for the squad, she’s not played for Chelsea regularly. If she starts scoring goals and is playing well, then she is no different to anyone else.

“First and foremost, is she good enough to play for England? Is she scoring goals and playing well?"

Earlier this year, the English FA offered Aluko a formal apology after evidence proved that former Lionesses coach Mark Sampson made remarks that were discriminatory on the grounds of race. Sampson was sacked during the probe into his behaviour as England coach over inappropriate and unacceptable relationships with players in a previous role.

Ghanaian-born Anita Asante who was equally critical of sacked coach was however named in Neville's first squad for the four nation championship in the US. Neville said Asante was invited purely based on her performance.

Asante, who also plays for Chelsea Ladies, told the FA probe that there was an environment of silence around the England women’s team. Neville said that the other England players in the team rated Asante very highly and she is a very popular figure.