19 February 2024 , 08:41
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Leah Williamson has withdrawn from her first England squad since April after sustaining a hamstring injury last week.
The Arsenal defender was named in Sarina Wiegman's forthcoming 23-player squad for the Lionesses' friendly double-header against Austria and Italy in Spain later this month. The call-up marked the first time Williamson, 26, had been included in an England squad in over 10 months since returning from an ACL injury sustained last season.
However, worry surrounding the defender's fitness levels began after Williamson wasn't named in Jonas Eidevall's squad for Saturday's Women's Super League clash against Manchester United. Worries were exacerbated as Eidevall told BBC that it was "likely" Williamson would be forced to withdraw from the squad altogether due to a hamstring injury.
And on Sunday, Williamson withdrew from the squad, with Manchester United defender Millie Turner called in to replace Williamson.
Williamson returned to the competitive fold with Arsenal earlier this year with her first appearance arriving in the Gunner’s 6-0 League Cup victory at Reading as she came off the bench. She has since made two starts for Jonas Eidevall’s side, including the 1-0 FA Cup fifth round loss to Manchester City at which Wiegman was in attendance.
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Since returning from injury, Williamson has been one of Arsenal's most consistent performers, though she has yet to play a full 90 minutes.
Eidevall described Williamson's hamstring injury "minor".
Leah Williamson said winning silverware with Arsenal upon returning from her ACL injury would be 'a dream' (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Wiegman's squad will travel to Algeciras on Monday for their warm weather camp, before facing Austria on 23 February and Italy on 27 February. The friendlies are in preparation for England's upcoming 2025 Women’s EURO qualifying campaign, which is set to begin in April after the draw on 5 March.
Williamson's absence means that England will be without both her and veteran centre-back Millie Bright, who is still returning from her own respective knee injury.
Despite Williamson's absence from the Arsenal squad on Saturday, the Gunners ran out comfortable victors against Manchester United in front of a record WSL crowd at the Emirates Stadium. An own goal from United's Geyse in the opening 10 minutes gave Arsenal an early advantage, one that Cloe Lacasse doubled shortly after the half-hour mark before Kim Little converted from the spot.
An injury-time consolation goal through Lucia Garcia was all United had to show for an inferior performance. The result leaves Arsenal just three points off leaders Manchester City and Chelsea, while United lag behind by 10 points with a European spot increasingly unlikely this season.
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