England boss Sarina Wiegman has all but given up hope of having Beth Mead available for this summer’s World Cup, admitting it will take a “miracle” for the star forward to be fit in time.
Mead has been sidelined since suffering a torn ACL during Arsenal’s Women’s Super League meeting with Manchester United in November and no time frame has been put on her return.
The 27-year-old was both player of the tournament and leading goalscorer during the Lionesses’ European Championship-winning campaign last summer and went on to finish second in voting for the women’s Ballon d’Or, but, on Tuesday, Wiegman offered a downbeat assessment of Mead’s chances of being on the plane to Australia.
“I had a conversation with her, she's doing well, she's in her rehab, she's doing good, but the World Cup is actually too early,” Wiegman said.
"So what we said is she's not in our plans now, just really take the time to get back well. But if a miracle happens and she goes so fast, then we will reconsider it - but at this moment, I don't expect that."
Wiegman was speaking after naming her squad for next month’s international break, when England will play Brazil at Wembley in the inaugural Women’s Finalissima before meeting World Cup co-hosts Australia at Brentford.
As well as Mead, England remain without Chelsea forward Fran Kirby because of the persistent knee injury that also saw the 29-year-old miss last month’s Arnold Clark Cup.
"I am concerned,” Wiegman said. “I want to keep this opportunity open. Hopefully she gets fit, gets on the pitch again and gets player. You need to show form and fitness. We have less time now.
"It's a little concern, but also we just need to see how she progresses.”
There is better news for Aston Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, however, who has been recalled for the first time since being dropped in the aftermath of the Euros.
“As I said over all the other camps, she needed to sort out some personal issues,” Wiegman added.
"She has done that, she has shown great performances, she has shown consistency and done that at her club first, so I thought this was the moment to bring her in."
