Leah Williamson will undergo further assessment on her knee as Sarina Wiegman’s list of injury concerns mounted further on Wednesday night – with just three months to go until the World Cup.
The England captain was visibly in pain as she went down in the 12th minute of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, in which Alessia Russo scored the only goal.
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall pointed the blame at United’s pitch at Leigh Sports Village, saying afterwards: “Of course it’s not good that she had to come off. You see the pitch, it is a pitch that has a lot more to [be desired].
“I think it’s going to continue here with the schedule we have and pitches like that, players are going to get injured.”
i has approached Manchester United for comment.
“That is something that we all need to improve on, the facilities where we play, so we can keep the players on the pitch,” Eidevall added.
i understands Williamson will undergo more tests with Arsenal’s medical team on Thursday but there is no clear timeframe on her return.
The number of matches played on the surface at Leigh Sports Village, home of United’s women’s team, has become contentious amid growing fears about the number of serious injuries in the WSL and in the wider women’s game.
In addition to United Women, Manchester United’s under-19 and under-23 teams also play there, as well as rugby league team Leigh Leopards, amateur rugby league outfit Leigh East and athletics club Leigh Harriers.
Pitches are only one factor perceived to be affecting WSL players, with the majority of sports science and strength and conditioning research having been conducted on male bodies. The vast majority of football boots are also designed for men and boys despite significant physiological differences in female athletes.
In a season that has also been plagued by frozen pitches, there have been calls for the WSL to capitalise on the popularity of Euro 2022 by playing at men’s stadia – on largely better-quality surfaces – instead.
Yet that has not often been feasible due to clashes with men’s teams; clubs are also reluctant to do so until they have grown their attendances on a more regular basis, to avoid the sight of half-empty grounds.
A number of WSL players have voiced their concerns at the current schedule regardless of where those matches are played. i columnist Magda Eriksson wrote in December that there needed to be “more serious thought given to player welfare in the women’s game” amid plans to squeeze a Club World Cup into an already hectic calendar.
Arsenal have arguably paid the price more than most in terms of injuries this season, with Williamson another setback as their increasingly slim title hopes begin to fade. The Gunners now sit six points behind league-leaders United and two behind second-placed Chelsea, having played a game more than Emma Hayes’ side.
Any prolonged spell on the sidelines for Williamson would also be a further injury headache for Eidevall, who was playing the Lionesses skipper in midfield to cope with Kim Little’s absence. Frida Maanum was nearly forced off too with a knock but managed to play the full 90 minutes.
The stakes are even higher for Wiegman, however, who already risks being without Millie Bright at the World Cup. The Chelsea centre-back has been on crutches since March and it is unclear when she will return.
Lotte Wubben-Moy, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan and Jess Carter are all alternative options but it would mean England losing their first-choice defensive pairing with fewer than 100 days to go until the tournament kicks off.
England are already weakened by the loss of Arsenal forward Beth Mead, who along with her partner and domestic team-mate Vivianne Miedema has torn her ACL. Wiegman recently said it would require a “miracle” for Mead to make the World Cup.
After witnessing another key Lioness injured, United boss Marc Skinner revealed he had spoken to Williamson post-match, where he found her “in really high spirits”.
“We obviously wish it’s something minor and just a precaution,” Skinner said. “We wish her all the best. We all want to see her lead the Lionesses in the summer.”
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