Chelsea attacker Fran Kirby has pulled out of the England squad with a knee injury.
The Football Association announced news of Kirby’s withdrawal via a squad update earlier this afternoon.
Kirby was set to start Friday’s international friendly against Austria in Algeciras, Spain, however, she sustained an injury in the warm-up and was replaced in the line-up by Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone. It has now been revealed that Kirby sustained a knee injury and she will play no further part in England’s February camp. The player will return to Chelsea for a further medical assessment. At this stage, the injury is described as ‘minor’.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman will not call-up a replacement for Kirby. Wiegman could opt to draft another Under-23 player into her squad for the international friendly against Italy on Tuesday evening. England Under-23s are on camp with the senior squad and a handful of youngsters have trained with the first team in recent days while Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones was drafted into the squad for the Austria game.
The Lionesses’ next fixture against Italy is scheduled to kick-off at 5pm on Tuesday evening. Like the Austria match, the game will take place in Algeciras, Spain and will bring England’s February camp to a close.