England manager Sarina Wiegman has addressed the devastating injuries to Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby after their World Cup hopes were dashed in recent weeks following long-term injuries.
Williamson suffered a heartbreaking ACL injury in Arsenal's Women's Super League meeting with Manchester United last month. It was news that shook the nation as the Lionesses will be forced to head to a major tournament without their captain. Kirby, on the other hand, has been sidelined for some time but she confirmed this week her current treatment plan wasn't working and she's set to undergo surgery which will keep her out for another significant period of time.
The Lionesses are already sweating over the fitness of Beth Mead, who also picked up an ACL injury earlier in the campaign. While the Arsenal star hasn't yet been ruled out of the World Cup, as she's set to be given every opportunity to make it, it still may come too soon for the forward.
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Wiegman will have plenty of food for thought over the coming weeks as she makes her final squad selections for the tournament. The England boss addressed the recent injury blows and highlighted the ruthlessness of the game.
“It is devastating for the players and they are understandably gutted – it is really sad for the players," she told England Football following the Nations League draw earlier this week. “Leah has done a tremendous job as our captain and she was in good form when it happened. It is horrible for her and sad for the whole team that she will be unavailable – she will be missed.
“And it is the same with Fran. She has been out for longer and it is a different injury but we had hoped she would be able to keep progressing. It hasn’t worked out how we all hoped and now she will enter another schedule to try to get fit.
"Most of all, it is horrible for her and disappointing for the team. But on the other hand, it gives other players the opportunity to show their quality.
“That is the tough thing and the ruthlessness thing about top sport, where we have to move on and not focus on who isn’t there but instead concentrate on who will be there and who is available, as we try to reach the highest level that we can.”
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