Sarina Wiegman facing 'tough call' on England star after Keira Walsh injury blow
Sarina Wiegman needs to wrap Georgia Stanway in cotton wool - and protect her until the World Cup’s knockout stages.
The Bayern Munich midfielder picked up a booking in the first game against Haiti and I’m not sure the Lionesses have the depth of squad to cope if both she and Keira Walsh are missing if we make the last 16. To my mind, the Dutch coach cannot afford to play a death or glory match without Stanway and if she picks up a caution against China, she’ll be suspended.
It’s a really tough call. I don’t envy Wiegman in making it at all - but you can see that Stanway plays on the edge. You can’t say: ‘Just be careful what you are doing out there, we don’t want you picking up a booking, hold back a little.’
That’s going to take away some of her competitive spirit. She either plays against China and comes through it without picking up caution, or she doesn’t. There can’t be any half-measures. And she will hate having to sit out a game at the World Cup. Absolutely hate it. That’s only natural - but I think it would be the sensible move.
The good news is that there is an obvious replacement for Stanway in Jordan Nobbs. Everyone knows that she has been unlucky herself with injuries ahead of tournaments but now this unfortunate turn of events with Walsh has opened the door for her.
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And England are lucky to have someone with her experience ready to step in. Nobbs would relish the big stage and will be able to hold the fort in the last game to ensure that we get over the line.
Sarina Wiegman saw her England side grind out a much-needed win over Denmark on FridayI really feel for Walsh. I don’t think there’s anyone else who plays like her in the squad. As I write, we’re still waiting for the results of the scan but my fear is that she’s joined those of us who have already suffered an injury to their anterior cruciate ligament.
It was 11 years ago now, I was making my debut for Doncaster Belles and did nothing more than belt the ball down the line. People in the crowd said afterwards that they heard a pop. I knew straight away it was serious.
And I could see in Keira’s reaction she knew the same. I hope it’s not serious - but think it is. Of course, it will be a crying shame for her. It's a long road back.
But the Lionesses showed against Denmark that they didn’t feel sorry for themselves by grinding it out - and if they are to go deep in this competition they’ll have to bury the hurt of seeing a team-mate in trouble and get on with the job in hand.
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