England head coach Sarina Wiegman says that the long-term injuries sustained by captain Leah Williamson and midfielder Fran Kirby are devastating for those players.
Arsenal defender Williamson ruptured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) last month while Chelsea’s Kirby has been struggling with a knee injury for three months and will now undergo surgery. Both players will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.
When speaking about the injuries with England’s official media team, Wiegman said that they were devastating for Williamson and Kirby.
“It is devastating for the players and they are understandably gutted – it is really sad for the players,” Wiegman said.
“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.
“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.”
Other players will now be fighting for places in Wiegman’s final squad for the tournament and she is viewing the situation as a positive rather than worry about the negatives.
She said “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.”
Wiegman is expected to announce her 23-player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 towards the end of this month.
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