Mary Earps has withdrawn from the England squad with a “minor” hip injury.
Uncapped Birmingham goalkeeper Lucy Thomas has been called up to the senior squad for Tuesday’s Euro 2025 qualifier against France in Earps’ absence, joining Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating as England’s goalkeeping options.
Earps sustained the injury during England’s 2-1 defeat to France on Friday evening.
The 31-year-old, who is out of contract with Manchester United in the summer, needed treatment after experiencing discomfort while clearing the ball to defender Millie Bright in the first minute.
She attempted to play on but then went down again and left the pitch in tears after just eight minutes at St James’ Park, with Chelsea goalkeeper Hampton replacing her. Earps was pictured on crutches at full time.
“Mary got injured and it took about five minutes to get started, then she went down again and had to be substituted,” Sarina Wiegman said to ITV Sport. “That was not what we were expecting.”
Wiegman later told a press conference: “Of course I’m concerned. She doesn’t go off the pitch often and she’s on crutches. I really don’t know but of course there are some concerns.”
Earps has been a mainstay in Wiegman’s side and was the Lionesses’ first choice goalkeeper at Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup.
She finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or awards and was named England’s player of the year in 2023.
England play France in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday, and there is then a gap before the Euro 2025 group qualifying stage concludes with matches against the Republic of Ireland at Carrow Road on July 12 and Sweden in Gothenburg on July 16. The 28-player squad selected by Wiegman last month will be used for both sets of fixtures.
England are third in Group A1 after taking four points from their opening three matches. The top two in the group will automatically qualify for Euro 2025, while third and fourth place will have to navigate the play-offs.
(Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
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