Sarina Wiegman provides update after Alex Greenwood suffers serious head injury

31 October 2023 , 21:57

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Alex Greenwood suffered a serious head injury during the defeat to Belgium. (Image: Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)

Sarina Wiegman says Alex Greenwood is "alright" after she was stretchered off with a head injury during England's Nations League loss in Belgium.

Greenwood suffered the serious looking injury in the first half of England's 3-2 defeat to the Red Flames after a clash of heads with Belgium's Jassina Blom.

With the game stopped for a lengthy delay, there were fears Greenwood was badly hurt. England boss Sarina Wiegman though did provide a positive update after the match in her post-game interview.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to the medical staff yet," Wiegman told ITV Sport. "We shall talk after the game. But she is alright. When she is walking, she is alright, so she is alright.

"But she had to go off and that is what everyone saw."

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Greenwood was involved in a collision with Blom while ducking to head the ball midway through the first half of t he Nations League tie, which England eventually lost thanks to a late Tessa Wullaert penalty. Although she also required extensive treatment, Blom was bandaged up after treatment from the Belgium medical staff.

But Greenwood was given oxygen during an extensive period of treatment from England medical staff while the game was stopped. After a 10-minute delay, the Man City defender was carried off the pitch on a stretcher to a warm round of applause from the fans inside the Den Dreef stadium in Belgium, which included 700 from England.

She was conscious as she left the pitch, squeezing the hands of her team-mates Millie Bright and Georgia Stanway. At half-time she was reported to be fully responsive, talking and being monitored by the team's medical staff.

Sarina Wiegman provides update after Alex Greenwood suffers serious head injury

Sarina Wiegman saw her side lose 3-2 in Belgium

Reporter Katie Shanahan, who interviewed Wiegman for ITV, also posted on social media website X to say Greenwood was on her feet after the game. She posted: "Alex Greenwood just walked past me in the tunnel. Good to see her up and about already # Lionesses."

Greenwood's England team-mate Lucy Bronze, who scored in the first half of England's defeat, wished her a speedy recovery in her post-match interview.

"Yeah I mean it was just not nice to see her in pain," said Bronze. "But I've been told she is doing well and she is ok.

"Obviously when it is a head injury you can't take it lightly. The medical team were superb on the pitch, making sure she was safe.

"We just wish her a speedy recovery."

England's hopes of progressing in the Women's Nations League were dealt a major blow by the defeat. The Lionesses initially overcame Greenwood's injury to lead 2-1 after goals from Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby.

But Belgium skipper Tessa Wullaert scored two goals either side of half-time, including one from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, to ensure a second defeat in the tournament for the Lionesses.