There was little doubt, when Sarina Wiegman’s reign began with a jostle for the England captaincy, that Steph Houghton’s future would remain uncertain going into Euro 2022. The biggest test yet will come on Wednesday, when Wiegman whittles down her Euro 2022 squad from 28 to 23.
Houghton is yet to play under the manager, who has delayed the announcement of her final group due to a close family bereavement. The guess work has already begun, though, not least because Houghton has only started four WSL matches for Manchester City this season due to injuries and she was forced to leave her last Lionessess camp in September 2021 after damaging her Achilles tendon in an 8-0 win over North Macedonia.
There have been rumblings that Houghton – who has 121 England caps – will join the group in an advisory role if she is not selected, even if she remains “positive” that she will be fit enough to play, having undergone surgery in February when she aggravated the same injury.
Wiegman picked her in the initial group because of “the experience she has, the levels she has shown before, [and] what she has contributed to English football”. It is now unclear whether that will be enough and there is no shortage of options at centre-back, from the Leah Williamson – who formally replaced Houghton as captain in April to Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy, Chelsea duo Millie Bright and Jess Carter and the versatile Alex Greenwood.
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It is not just Houghton, 34, who will be doubtful of her place due to fitness issues, as there are concerns over Fran Kirby and Jill Scott too.
While Scott, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa in order to maximise playing opportunities, is winning the race to be included, Kirby took her second indefinite break from football in three years back in April due to ongoing health issues, this time related to fatigue.
The Chelsea forward made her return at the end of the season, playing in the FA Cup final as Emma Hayes’ side beat Manchester City, but there are still questions over whether she will be physically ready for the quick turnover of a major tournament. Prior to her latest hiatus, she had been called up to every England squad so far under Wiegman. The England boss admitted she did not “want to take any risks with her” but has been impressed with her recovery in training.
Manchester City’s Chloe Kelly was likewise included in the provisional squad as she continues her return from a ruptured ACL in May last year. The forward immediately impressed after coming back in April, although the Euros may have come too soon for her to add to her seven international appearances so far.
Jordan Nobbs is absent due to the knee ligament damage she suffered in Arsenal’s 7-0 win over Aston Villa towards the end of the season, which makes the battle for places in midfield slightly less contested. With Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh certain to be included, it could be a straight shootout between Manchester United team-mates Lucy Staniforth and Katie Zelem for the final place.
In an attack boasting 86 England goals between them and featuring record goalscorer Ellen White, Alessia Russo, Beth England, Beth Mead, Kelly and Lauren Hemp, one of Nikita Parris or Niamh Charles could also be axed. Parris has more than a half century of appearances but has struggled for game time since returning to English football with Arsenal last summer. Once such a prominent member of the Lionesses set-up, she still has a chance of edging out Charles, who is only just breaking through to the senior set-up.
Everton’s Sandy MacIver is also unlikely to make the final cut, with Aston Villa’s Hannah Hampton and Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck serving as back-ups to Manchester United’s Mary Earps.
Uefa’s deadline for the squad to be named is not until Sunday 26 June, but after that teams are allowed to call up unlimited replacements up until the first match in the event of serious injury or illness – including Covid, or close contact with a positive case.
England play their first match against Austria at a sold-out Old Trafford on 6 July, with three warm-up fixtures before then against Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
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Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Sandy MacIver (Everton), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)
Forwards: Beth England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)
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