It’s hard to envision a world in which Manchester United’s Mary Earps doesn’t start an England game. It would be a bold move, perhaps an act of self sabotage for Wiegman to pick another goalkeeper.
How could you deny the 2023 FIFA Best Goalkeeper, World Cup Golden Glove winner, Ballon d’Or nominee and WSL clean sheet record holder her No.1 shirt? But it does beg the question – who would be Earps’ replacement should the unthinkable happen – perhaps a rogue red-card, or an injury niggle.
Before the start of this season, Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck would largely have been considered the frontrunner, more so given that her City and former Lionesses teammate Sandy MacIver has transferred to the Scotland Women’s national team.
Roebuck has been a part of the England senior squad since 2018 and has made 11 appearances. Most recently she was a part of the squad who made it to the World Cup final this year.
The sticking point: Despite starting 17 of City’s 22 WSL games last season, Roebuck hasn’t appeared for her side since being red-carded on May 21 for a foul against Manchester United’s Nikita Parris. For two games this season, Roebuck hasn’t even made the bench.
The plot thickens: City manager Gareth Taylor replaced Roebuck with 19-year-old Khiara Keating who received her first Lionesses call-up this month. Not only that, but Keating is rapidly making a name for herself in the WSL – City sit top of the table (on ten points), with three clean sheets to her name, having conceded only one goal.
And we haven’t even mentioned former Aston Villa No 1 Hannah Hampton. Hampton moved to Chelsea this season hoping to benefit from the experience of international WSL greats – Germany’s Ann Katrin Berger, Sweden’s Zakira Musovic and Belgium’s Nicky Everard. The issue – this puts her fourth in the pecking order and unlikely to see any playing time this year.
My bet would be for Keating – she’s young, confident and enthusiastic. Not only that, but she’d…
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