Emily Bates will replace Hannah Hicks at the European Championships in Gdansk, Poland because Hicks is recovering from an illness and will not be able to take part.

This is a great opportunity for Bates, who makes her senior team debut for the England team at just 15 years old. She was given just two days notice for this tournament so she has had to pack up her bags quickly and board the plane for Poland.

She was due to play for Lincolnshire in the seniors this weekend but can enjoy the international experience instead!

This is a reward for years of hard work for Emily who has won over 20 national titles and is, in fact, the last English girl to win a European medal in the singles when she won at Safir, a tournament in Sweden three years ago. In the final she met Ekaterina Guseva (the current world number 297)  who she beat 3-0 to claim the title.

Emily actually comes from the same school that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher went to, but with such an important tournament coming up the school work will have to wait for the time being!

She will be supported in Poland by her father who is flying out today.

The European Championships runs from 8th-16th October 2011.

Full revised England squad:

Men:

Paul Drinkhall, Darius Knight, Daniel Reed and Liam Pitchford

Women:

Joanna Parker, Kelly Sibley and Emily Bates

Coaches:

Jia Yi Liu and Alan Cooke