MY ACCOUNT
Sarina Wiegman is not making any early call on Beth Mead’s involvement in this year’s Women’s World Cup.
Mead won the Player of the Tournament award and the Golden Boot as England celebrated an historic triumph at their home Women’s Euro 2022.
The Arsenal striker also finished in second place in last year’s Ballon d’Or Feminin voting and would have a key role to play for Wiegman’s Lionesses in Australia and New Zealand in July.
But Mead’s status ahead of the finals is uncertain as she continues her recovery from an ACL tear in November.
As Wiegman named her latest England squad on Tuesday, she was asked if consideration had been given to plans that did not include Mead.
But featuring at the World Cup remains a target for the 27-year-old.
“It’s a little early to say. I don’t want to push it. She’s had so many things going on,” Wiegman said of Mead, whose mother died last year from ovarian cancer.
“We’ll see how her rehabilitation goes, then we’ll look at the future. I don’t want her to look too far forward right now because of her situation.
“She had of course other private issues. I left the knee situation until now as I just wanted her to be okay and get settled with the situation and sadness she had around her.
“She told me she’s doing well. She really wants to make [the World Cup]. First, she needs to settle and we will see from there. For now, I won’t push that.”
