Arsenal and England star Leah Williamson to miss World Cup
The Lionesses skipper will not make the trip to Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Leah Williamson will miss this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The England captain sustained the injury during the first half of the Women’s Super League game against Manchester United, which Arsenal went on to lose 1-0.
On Friday the club issued a statement: “We can confirm that Leah Williamson suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in our Barclays Women’s Super League match against Manchester United on Wednesday night.”
“Leah was substituted in the first half of the game at Leigh Sports Village and underwent further assessment on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.”
“Leah will now begin a period of rehabilitation and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. She will undergo surgery in due course.”
Williamson captained the Lionesses to glory in the 2022 European Championships and will be a major miss for Sarina Wiegman’s side.
However the 26-year-old is not the only fitness concern for England women as they look to taste World Cup glory for the first time.
Chelsea duo Fran Kirby and Millie Bright are both a doubt having missed a lot of the season due to injury. Most crucially, perhaps, last summer’s top goal scorer Beth Mead has already been ruled out due to an ACL injury.