Aston Villa boss Carla Ward says that she is astounded by the fact that goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has not been selected in the latest England squad.
New Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman selected Everton’s Sandy MacIver and Chelsea’s Carly Telford whilst opting to bring back Manchester United’s Mary Earps following a long absence for this month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 qualifiers against North Macedonia and Luxembourg. First choice goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck would arguably have also made the selection ahead of Hampton had she not have been injured.
Aston Villa keeper Hampton produced the most saves of any Barclays FA Women’s Super League goalkeeper last weekend while she saved the third-highest number of shots in last season’s competition. She also came out with the third-best record when it came to saving penalty kicks last term.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time in an Aston Villa press conference, head coach Ward said that she is astounded by Hampton’s squad omission.
She said “What more does she have to do to get in? I don’t know the answer.
“I’m astounded that she has not been called-up, not because I’m biased and that she’s my player, because she is probably one of the most in-form players, not only off the back of last season but also the start of this season. You watch her performance at the weekend….for me, if we are going on form, she gets selected.
“I’m really disappointed for her, I don’t know the reasons for it but for me, she is one of the most outstanding keepers right now in the English game.”
With Hampton having missed out on selection for the national team, she must simply look to continue to build on her club form, starting at West Ham United on Saturday, a game which head coach Ward believes will be very tough.
“They’ll be tough opponents;” Ward said. “They’ve made some great signings, they’ve got some good experienced players – Lisa Evans will be a massive player for them this year, Claudia Walker who I worked with last year, we know what she is all about.
“They have got some real quality players in there and I think that it will be a really tough afternoon.”
Aston Villa’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against West Ham United at The Chigwell Construction Stadium kicks-off at 11.30am on Saturday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
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