England have been dealt a hammer blow after it was confirmed that captain Leah Williamson will miss the Women’s World Cup this summer due to a knee injury.
Williamson ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in the WSL on Wednesday.
The centre-back is due to undergo surgery and will miss the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which starts on July 20.
Lionesses vice-captain Millie Bright will now likely step up to the lead the side, but she is also currently out injured with a knee issue.
England boss Sarina Wiegman is also sweating on the fitness of Chelsea playmaker Fran Kirby as the Lionesses bid to follow up winning Euro 2022 on home soil with World Cup glory down under.
Williamson is the third Arsenal Women’s player to rupture her ACL this season, along with forwards Beth Mead - top scorer and player of the tournament for England at the Euros also expected to miss the World Cup - and Vivianne Miedema.
The Gunners have had further injury problems, with captain Kim Little hurting her hamstring and also being ruled out for the rest of the season.
Jonas Eidevall’s side travel to Wolfsburg on Sunday for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie, while they are still fighting to win the WSL.
A statement from Arsenal read: “We can confirm that Leah Williamson suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in our Barclays Women’s Super League match against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
“Leah was substituted in the first half of the game at Leigh Sports Village and underwent further assessment on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.
“Leah will now begin a period of rehabilitation and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. She will undergo surgery in due course.
“Everyone at Arsenal will be supporting Leah closely throughout the journey ahead and we would ask that her privacy is respected at this time.”
Williamson played an integral role as England won Euro 2022, playing every minute of the tournament and captaining the Lionesses to their first major trophy.
“Until I have the words to express my feelings properly I will struggle to verbalise them,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Those noise around the situation is loud and I need some quiet to let it all sink in. Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me and everyone will think that’s the main focus, but it’s the day to day of what I’m about to go through that is the most draining of my thoughts.
“I had my tears and made my peace with it the night it happened and since then I have been following the steps I’m told to, in order to best help myself in the short and long term.
“Ultimately, I think it’s just my time. In the past couple of years alone I have watched team-mates beat serious illnesses and adversity with the biggest smiles on their faces.
“I also hold perspective that globally there are much greater difficulties and therefore my circumstances right now are just that, circumstantial, and I’ve seen a lot worse.
“I haven’t had a day since last October when I’ve walked on to the pitch without a physical or mental question mark over me, and that’s professional sports. So now I have to listen to my body, give it what it needs and if everything happens for a reason, then we’ll see what road this turn sends me down.
“I have given and will continue to give everything that my body, mind and heart possibly has to the Arsenal and Lionesses, I will still be there through thick and thin for all of my team-mates and their biggest supporter.
“I feel your love and support, so thank you! All I ask is for a little bit of time and space to deal with all that is to come.”
