Arsenal and England have received the news everyone feared: Leah Williamson will miss the rest of the season, including this summer’s World Cup, and much of next season after tearing her ACL.
Wiegman is already facing the prospect of missing Beth Mead, the top scorer at Euro 2022.
To make matters worse, there are also concerns about Chelsea duo Fran Kirby and Millie Bright. Kirby has not played since January while Bright has an unspecified knee injury.
With Ellen White retired after the European Championship, England could be without five players who started every match at the tournament last summer.
It’s knee injuries that have plagued the Lionesses camp – all four players currently sidelined are experiencing a different variant of a knee problem.
With 92 days to go until England’s first match at the World Cup, Wiegman’s plans were in tatters with Williamson and Mead both suffering ACL injuries. Here, Mail Sport takes a look at England’s current injury list and the likelihood of the absentees returning for the summer.
Sarina Wiegman (L) has been hit hard by the news that Leah Williamson will miss the tournament after a torn ACL
Williamson has been sidelined for a long time after he was injured against Manchester United
Millie Bright is another for whom Wiegman will be very concerned about their fitness
Leah Williamson
Position: Midback
Injury: Torn anterior cruciate ligament
Williamson was forced off in the 15th minute of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester United after appearing to twist her knee. The defender’s foot got caught in the turf and replays seemed to cause the knee to ‘pop’.
Williamson was sent for scans and they returned the results that the whole country dreaded. She will miss the rest of the campaign, including the World Cup and much of next season as well.
Williamson went out injured against United with fears of another cruciate ligament injury
Williamson is England’s captain and crucial to their hopes in Australia and New Zealand
Will she make it?
Unfortunately, there is no chance that she will make it to Australia and New Zealand as a player.
“Leah is now entering a period of rehabilitation and will be sidelined for an extended period of time,” Arsenal said in a statement announcing the news on Friday afternoon. “She will have surgery in due course.
“Everyone at Arsenal will support Leah closely throughout the journey ahead and we ask that her privacy be respected at this time.”
Millie Bright
Position: Midback
Injury: Knee
Bright stumbled out of Chelsea’s first Champions League quarter-final with Lyon at the end of March and has not played since.
The injury appeared serious at the time, but Bright calmed post-game fears and the concerns seemed to dissipate.
It’s unclear what Bright actually did. Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has repeatedly said the defender is ‘fine’, but Bright was seen on crutches a few weeks ago and is still unavailable.
Millie Bright has not played since late March but looks fit for the summer
Will she make it?
The general consensus is that Bright will be available barring setbacks in her recovery.
Hayes has not given a concrete update on when Bright is expected to return, but Wiegman didn’t seem too concerned when asked about the defender after the last international camp.
“I’m not too worried about Millie,” Wiegman said earlier this month.
“I think the expectation is that she will still come back to play.”
England looked defensively vulnerable without Bright against Brazil and Australia. The central defender’s physical presence in the air and leadership would be a major miss if she were not available.
Fran Kirby
Position: Attacking midfield
Injury: Knee
Kirby was forced to leave the field with a knee injury during Chelsea’s League Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur in January.
It was not considered too serious at the time, with Kirby in a positive mood as she left the field. But the 28-year-old has not played since and is receiving pain-relieving injections to help.
Hayes has said there is no timetable for her return and given Kirby’s history of knee injuries, it is unlikely she will be sent back as a matter of urgency.
Fran Kirby has not played for Chelsea since January and is receiving painkilling injections
The attacking midfielder is crucial to England’s hopes and losing her would be a major blow
It is to be hoped – especially amid the Williamson news – that Kirby can give England a boost
Will she make it?
It will be touch and go, but Kirby has been in this position before. Last season, she did not play a game from February due to a fatigue-related illness, but was still part of the squad.
Although it will be more difficult this time. If Kirby doesn’t return before the end of the season, Wiegman will have a big decision to make.
The lioness’s boss hinted that she will give her as much time as possible to prove her fitness, but will not take any risks in the end.
“I’m a bit more worried about Fran,” Wiegman said earlier this month. “She’s progressing, we’re following her very closely and hopefully she can progress quickly so we can see her on the pitch.”
bet med
Position: Attacker/Winger
Injury:ACL
Mead suffered an ACL injury during Arsenal’s match with Manchester United on 20 November, eight months before England’s first World Cup match.
It was a devastating blow to club and country as Mead was the top scorer for the Lionesses at the European Championships last summer.
Players can return from ACL injuries in anywhere from 6 to 12 months, depending on the severity of the fracture. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas suffered the same injury the day before the start of the European Championship and is now set to return to the field nine months later.
Beth Mead has been out for much of the season with an ACL injury and it would be a miracle if she made it through
The English hero of last summer is doing everything he can to be fit for the team this summer
Wiegman herself has said she does not expect Mead to be fit for the tournament
Will she make it?
Never say never, but it would be a tall order for Mead to join the team.
Wiegman appears to be resigned to the fact that the attacker will not be fit enough to go, but did say that ‘miracles can happen’.
“I’ve had conversations with her, she’s doing well in rehab, she’s doing well,” Wiegman said.
‘But the World Cup is actually still too early. What we said now is, she’s not in our plans right now, just really take the time to get well again.
“But if a miracle happens and she goes [through recovery] so soon, we will reconsider. But at the moment I don’t expect that.’
Mead has not given up hope and is ahead of schedule with her recovery. But even if she is able to play again by the summer, it is unlikely she will be match fit as she is unlikely to return for Arsenal before the end of the season.