Keswick's Abbie Scott will captain England tonight against the USA.

Catherine O’Donnell, from Maryport, has also been selected for the squad which will tackle the USA, Canada and Ireland in the Quilter Internationals Test Series.

Harlequins lock Scott, who was a member of the 2017 World Cup squad and has racked up 29 caps for the national side, will lead the team for the opener in the absence of regular skipper Sarah Hunter.

O’Donnell, who plays her club rugby for Loughborough Lightning, will be looking to add to her four caps for the Red Roses.

Head coach Simon Middleton said: “Abbie is a natural leader and a rugby smart player, she will do a great job.”

England take on the USA tonight at Allianz Park before facing Canada on November 18 at Castle Park and Ireland on November 24 at Twickenham Stadium.

The USA arrive in the UK having played the Black Ferns on Sunday, losing their first game since last year’s World Cup semi-finals.

They most recently played England in Ireland last summer, with the Red Roses coming out 47-26 winners.

Middleton added: “The USA are match-ready from their game against the Black Ferns and will be hardened and wiser for last weekend.

“Like them, we are ready and expect a tough game on Friday.”

The full 23-woman matchday squad is as follows: Sarah McKenna, Lydia Thompson, Carys Williams, Tatyana Heard, Kelly Smith, Katy Daley-Mclean, Leanne Riley, Ellena Perry, Lark Davies, Shaunagh Brown, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Scott, Joanna Brown, Vicky Fleetwood, Sarah Beckett, Heather Kerr, Vickii Cornborough, Hannah Botterman, Catherine O’Donnell, Sarah Hunter, Claudia Macdonald, Zoe Harrison, Lucy Attwood.