It was with a backheel in Sheffield that Alessia Russo confirmed herself as heir apparent to Ellen White, the answer to the Lionesses’ soul-searching over how they would eventually replace their record goalscorer.
White’s successor is expected to lead the line at this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with England signing off with one last outing against Portugal at Stadium MK this weekend.
A friendly it may be but it has become a surprisingly weighty moment for Russo. Since Euro 2022 and White’s retirement, she would have felt totally assured of her place as one of Sarina Wiegman’s first names on the teamsheet – not least because she was the standout traditional centre-forward in the England group.
Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Katie Robinson will compete on the flanks, but Russo has had no real reason to prove her merits or fight for her place.
Her Manchester United form has backed that up too. Only four Women’s Super League players bettered her for goals per 90 minutes in the 2022-23 season, her tally of 10 attracting two January bids from Arsenal.
The Gunners were prepared to break the world record fee of £400,000 set by Keira Walsh’s move to Barcelona last summer – now they are on the verge of signing her for free as Russo leads a mass exodus at United.
To Red Devils boss Marc Skinner, Russo may prove to be irreplaceable. England, meanwhile, are better stocked.
Rachel Daly’s move from Euros left-back to her preferred role of striker – where she played for Houston Dash before joining Aston Villa – saw her win the WSL Golden Boot. That success became impossible for Wiegman to ignore, though her decision to play up front for the national side has cost her the small matter of her starting place.
Alongside Russo and Daly, Beth England has also been recalled for the World Cup, a measure of the 12 goals scored since joining Tottenham from Chelsea in January. A move not without its risks – she came close to swapping title glory for relegation – but it was unquestionably the right decision. England almost single-handedly kept Spurs up, arguably just as great a feat than lifting another trophy under Emma Hayes.
Displacing Russo for the national side will take some doing but England has defied the odds to get here in the first place. Wiegman rarely backtracks but has made an exception for the previously sidelined forward.
Amazingly, even with Fran Kirby and Beth Mead missing the World Cup, Wiegman is a fair way short of a crisis. Leah Williamson’s absence at centre-back is grave; Mead and Kirby are more easily replaced and Wiegman’s big conundrum is squeezing seven into three.
Russo admits the long months of transfer speculation, which began in earnest last summer, have taken their toll. The 24-year-old is relieved to be in an environment where “all your focus is on England” – and with Daly and England breathing down her neck, perhaps it is just as well.
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