Beth Mead needs ‘miracle’ to be fit for World Cup, admits Sarina Wiegman

Sarina Wiegman has said it would take a “miracle” for Beth Mead to be ready for the World Cup in July. The England striker ruptured an ACL playing for Arsenal in November and this is the first time Wiegman has all but ruled her out of the tournament.

“I had conversations with her, she’s doing well in her rehab, she’s doing good,” England’s manager said after the announcement of her squad for next month’s Finalissima against Brazil and friendly with Australia. “But the World Cup is actually too early. What we said now is she’s not in our plans, just really take the time to get back well but if a miracle happens and she goes [through recovery] so fast, we will reconsider it. But at this moment I don’t expect that.”

There was also concern for Fran Kirby, with the forward struggling to return from a knee injury. “I’m concerned because she has been out for a while now and it doesn’t look like she’ll be back in a real short time, but I want to keep this opportunity open,” Wiegman said. “She’ll be treated how we treat anyone else. Hopefully she gets fit, she gets on the pitch again, she gets playing and then you need to feel performance and fitness.”

Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, West Ham’s Lucy Parker and Manchester City’s Esme Morgan have been recalled to the final squad before Wiegman names the players who will travel to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Hampton is back for the first time since last summer’s Euros, after being dropped because of her behaviour and attitude at the team’s camps. “She needed to sort out some personal issues – she’s done that,” Wiegman said. “She has shown great performances. She has shown consistency and done that at her club first, so I thought this is the moment to bring her in.”

Wiegman said she had talked with Villa’s manager, Carla Ward, “throughout the year and about other players playing there” before including Hampton. “In terms of the content of the conversation, I’m not going to share [details] because that’s personal and confidential,” she said.

The injured goalkeeper Emily Ramsey drops out together with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie Zelem and Ebony Salmon, and there is still no place for Bethany England, who has scored six goals in five games since joining Tottenham from Chelsea in January. Nikita Parris also misses out again.

The former captain Steph Houghton, who played in Manchester City’s impressive 2-0 defeat of the WSL title holders Chelsea on Sunday is also not included. “The door is not closed but at this moment she’s not in the squad and I chose other players as centre-back,” Wiegman said.