Beth Mead is set for a prolonged period on the sidelines as she will require surgery after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament.
This means the Arsenal and England star may miss the majority of the rest of the 2022-23 season, and is a serious doubt for the Lionesses 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, ahead of the tournament starting in mind-July. Although fans will be desperate for Mead to win her race against the clock, it looks a tough ask for the Ballon d'Or Feminin runner-up to be fully fit for the biggest tournament on the planet.
Both Jonas Eidevall and Sarina Wiegman 's forward plans will have been derailed by the news of Mead's injury. But who might her managers, both at club and international level, look towards to step in and replace her? Here are the possible contenders, starting with who the Lionesses could be looking at as a replacement.
