Hannah Hampton has been ruled out of England's clash with Brazil on Saturday, meaning Sarina Wiegman will hand out a debut to another goalkeeper in the Lionesses squad this weekend. Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse are both in contention for that opportunity, as is Sophie Baggaley, who has been called into camp in light of Hampton's injury.
Hampton injury news: Goalkeeper to miss England vs Brazil
Wiegman revealed the news in her press conference on Friday, explaining that Hampton has sustained a "small elbow injury" that doesn't – as of right now – rule her out of England's second fixture on Tuesday, against Australia, or mean she has to leave the camp, but it does leave her unavailable for the game against Brazil on Saturday at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. "She'll be assessed and we'll see how that goes until Tuesday," Wiegman added.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesEngland debut incoming: Who will Wiegman pick to start in Hampton's place?
It will either be Keating, Moorhouse or Baggaley who gets to stand in between the sticks for the first time for the Lionesses this weekend, then. It would be a particularly sentimental moment for Keating, who plays her club football for Man City and was born and raised in the area. Her selection would perhaps be the most logistical one for the long-term, given she is only 21 years old and seen as an exciting prospect for the future.
Moorhouse, meanwhile, would be seen by some as the safer pick, particularly with Keating sometimes prone to errors amid her youth and experience. The 30-year-old plays her football in the U.S. with the Orlando Pride, who she helped do the double last year by clinching the NWSL Shield and Championship. She's got that experience of big stages in her favour, then.
Baggaley, though an important call-up and a goalkeeper with plenty of high-level games under her belt, would be more of a surprise pick, given she has not been as involved in the England set-up in recent times as Moorhouse and Keating, who were part of the squad that won the European Championships this past summer.
"I have made the decision," Wiegman said of her starting goalkeeper on Saturday. "But, as always, we have to get through this [last training] session and then, of course, I inform the team first before I inform [the media]."
More Lionesses injury news as Wubben-Moy added to list of absentees
Hampton was not the only player Wiegman revealed to be unavailable for Saturday's game either, as she also announced on Friday that Lotte Wubben-Moy has left the camp and is recovering at home after feeling unwell. It is a further blow to a defensive department which is already without captain Leah Williamson, due to injury; Millie Bright, who announced her international retirement earlier this month; and Katie Reid, the talented teenager who was called up after impressing in Williamson's absence at Arsenal, but had to withdraw from the squad due to a groin problem.
It has further reduced Wiegman's options for that right-sided centre-back role, where there is a real opportunity for at least one player, if not two, in this camp. Alex Greenwood has seemingly nailed down the left-sided position and it will likely be either Esme Morgan or Jess Carter alongside her on Saturday, with a safe prediction that one plays against Brazil and the other starts on Tuesday when England face Australia. Grace Fisk was called in to replace Reid earlier this week but she would be a surprise pick given she wasn't in the initial squad and remains uncapped. Maya Le Tissier would be another option but Wiegman has made it clear that she sees the Manchester United captain as a right-back, not a centre-back, in her team.
Getty ImagesInjuries impact England team selection in several areas as Brazil & Australia visit
It's not just in defence, where Lucy Bronze and Niamh Charles are also only just back from injuries, that the Lionesses have concerns for this camp, either. Jess Park and Grace Clinton have both withdrawn from the squad over the course of the last week, while Lauren Hemp and Lauren James were not included due to injuries. It means there are limited options in the wide areas in particular, though England do still have dependable options such as Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead to call upon.
Still, with so many players missing, it increases the chances of seeing some experimentation from Wiegman across these two friendlies as the Lionesses begin a new tournament cycle, with qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup to start in the New Year.
