Lyon stop England star Nikita Parris from joining up with the Lionesses

England Women will be without striker Nikita Parris for their game against Northern Ireland this month after Lyon stopped her from going on international duty due to Covid quarantine implications.

Interim manager Hege Riise named the first squad of her brief tenure on Tuesday but Parris was not included because of the impact France‘s Covid-19 protocols would have her on availability.

FIFA have announced that clubs will now be able to stop players from travelling across the globe to represent their national sides if it will require them to quarantine when they get back. 

Lyon have stopped Nikita Parris from going on England duty due to Covid quarantine rules

Interim manager Hege Riise named the first squad of her brief tenure on Tuesday morning

The French Government’s rules dictate that passengers arriving from countries outside of the European Union, including the United Kingdom, must undergo seven days in quarantine.

England are due to play Northern Ireland on February 23 and Parris is expected to be in action for Lyon on February 27, meaning she would have had to miss that match if she was called up.

Parris – who has 50 caps for her country – played in England’s previous game, a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the SheBelieves Cup. 

Her omission could be a sign of things to come in the men’s game ahead of next month’s international break.

Countries in South America and Africa, as well as Portugal, are currently on the UK Government‘s ‘red list’, which requires travellers to isolate in a hotel for 10 days upon their return. 

Sportsmail revealed that Brazil and Argentina were set to call up all of their Premier League stars for next month’s internationals but it is understood Liverpool will take up the chance to keep their trio of Alisson, Fabinho and Firmino if they are called up as well as Portugal’s Diogo Jota.  

Parris – who has 50 England caps – would have to isolate for seven days on her return to France