12:33 PM
Beth Mead ruled out through injury
Arsenal forward Beth Mead is to miss out on this summer’s Women’s World Cup, Telegraph Sport understands, with England head coach Sarina Wiegman naming her squad of 23 at 2pm today.
The tournament in Australia and New Zealand gets under way on July 20, which will come too soon for Mead, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament at the end of November and subsequently underwent surgery on her knee in early December.
It is understood that Mead and Wiegman have had productive talks throughout the past few months and both parties agree the decision has been made with her best interests at heart, not wishing to risk her longer-term recovery.
Wiegman said in April that Mead required “a miracle” to be fit in time but the Euros Golden Boot winner was still trying as hard as she could to be fit in time.
“I understand and appreciate that,” Mead told Telegraph Sport last month. “Her comments were made to keep the pressure off.
“The worst thing you can have as a player is a coach who bull—-s you.
“Sarina has been unbelievably good at that side of things. You ask any of the girls, those who have been left out of squads, those who have had huge disappointments. She will call you the day before and give the reasons why. It’s always honest and constructive.”
Wiegman’s full squad will not be revealed until 2pm, but there are not likely to be many surprises.
Of the biggest decisions for the head coach is whether or not to take Bethany England, who has been in great form for her club, scoring 12 goals in 12 WSL appearances since joining Tottenham in the January transfer window. But she has not featured for her country in 2023, last playing for the Lionesses against Luxembourg in September 2022. She was selected for last summer’s Euros but was an unused substitute throughout.
Wingers Katie Robinson, of Brighton, and Nikita Parris, of Manchester United, will be among those waiting for news of whether or not they have made it. It is also thought that one of the following centre-backs will have to miss out: Maya Le Tissier, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Esme Morgan or West Ham’s Lucy Parker.
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