LIAM Gilbert hopes Oxford United Women will feel the benefits of a major tournament on home turf.

England head coach Sarina Wiegman names her 23-player squad for this summer’s European Championships at 5pm today.

The tournament takes place from July 6 to 31 across ten grounds in nine locations, including several southern venues.

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U’s Women manager Gilbert urged fans to seize their chance to watch the highest level of women’s football and knows it could have a knock-on effect next season.

He said: “It should be an amazing showcase for the country to see where the women’s game is at.

“Hopefully as many people as possible who haven’t been to a women’s international can go to see them with it being on our doorstep.

“We’re quite fortunate: we’ve got MK up the road one way, Southampton up the road the other way and Brentford all hosting games in a decent drivable distance.

“Hopefully that exposure and accessibility will drive interest and our crowds will continue to increase.”

U’s fans were rarely disappointed last season as their team finished second in FA Women’s National League Southern Premier.

Gilbert’s side did not lose a game at Court Place Farm and served up several excellent performances, including a 5-0 derby thrashing of Swindon Town and a 3-1 win over Ipswich Town Women.

The national team have also been competing for silverware in recent years, winning the 2019 SheBelieves Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 European Championships and 2019 World Cup.

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More than 400,000 tickets for this summer’s tournament had already been sold by the end of last month and Gilbert pointed to two factors driving the competition’s popularity.

“Everyone loves a winning team as it’s easier to get behind,” he said.

“I went to one of the Arnold Clark Cup games (in February) and the players were speaking to fans and signing autographs afterwards.

“It’s a slightly different atmosphere and approach and I think the more people get around that, the more interest they will have in the women’s side of the game.”