Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have been excluded from the England squad ahead of the World Cup playoff matches against Greece while Lexi Potter and Erica Meg Parkinson are included.
Kelly, 28, and Toone, 27, have both been integral figures in Sarina Wiegman's England tenure, but both miss out on the back-to-back matches against Greece.
Chelsea's Aggie Beever-Jones is also omitted as are Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds, while Aston Villa's Ellie Roebuck is also not included.
Sources have told ESPN that Toone is fully fit, and her omission is due to form.
"The main reason is I think the levels weren't what I expected from them on the pitch. I've had conversation with them and there's a big competition going on too. It's been a very hard decision for both of them," Wiegman said in a news conference about Kelly and Toone.
"I really believe in them. They're not in the squad, but I believe in them. We follow them and we expect a bit more. We know they can bring more. That was the message again too. There's also competition going on.
"I hope they can step up and show what they can do because I'm convinced that they can do better. I think they are convinced about that too. I think they took the feedback in a positive way, but it's hard to [hear] at the same time, of course."
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers said Kelly hasn't been included in the squad for their Women's Champions League match against Paris FC due to injury.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's Potter has been included as just reward for her impressive start to the season while Leah Williamson returns having missed the June matches through injury. Grace Fisk and Khiara Keating are also named.
"I think she has grown a lot. Last season we kept a close eye on her because she was getting into the squad and playing really well. But I think she's started the season so well. Her performances have really impressed us so she really deserves this call-up," Wiegman said of Potter.
Parkinson also gets the nod and she'll hope to win her first cap when the Lionesses play Greece in Heraklion and then again in Leicester.
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"We have great respect for Greece, but our expectations of ourselves are clear," Wiegman said.
"We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup.
"It's always exciting to reconnect as a group and we are looking forward to getting back together. The players will arrive motivated and ready for the next steps. We are looking forward to travelling to Crete and playing Greece for the first time ever. We will then return to Leicester, where we've enjoyed some good moments together in the past. We know our supporters will get behind the team again, and it will be great to play in front of them after a few months away."
