Sarina Wiegman explains Maya Le Tissier’s England omission and gives Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright fitness update

Sarina Wiegman has explained the omission of Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier from her England World Cup squad.

Le Tissier missed out on Wiegman’s 23-player squad for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, despite impressing this season for a United side that pushed Women’s Super League winners Chelsea to the final day.

The 21-year-old, along with Jess Park and Emily Ramsey, has been named on a standby list and will travel with the squad to Australia on July 5 for their final preparations.

Wiegman has included seven defenders in her selection, with first-choice right-back Lucy Bronze deemed fit after recent knee surgery.

Asked about Le Tissier, Wiegman said: “She (was) really close, she will train with the team.

“That was a hard call, like all the defenders we had to think about and she didn’t get there with the 23.

“We also see her more as a right-back; at club she plays as a centre-back. She has had a very good season but this is the choice we made.”

Millie Bright, who has also undergone a recent knee procedure, will captain the side in Leah Williamson’s enforced absence.

Insisting Bright and Bronze were ready for the tournament, Wiegman said: “The last week was a little stressful; we had to make hard decision, it’s nice for the ones that are in and not nice for those who aren’t.

“Lucy Bronze is fit and is fully in training, Millie Bright is in a good place and positive. She is still building but it looks good.”

Williamson is sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Euro 2022 player of the tournament Beth Mead has also missed out after failing to recover from the same injury in time. Fran Kirby confirmed earlier this month that she would be absent with a knee injury.

“Of course, most of all for (Leah) Williamson, it is very sad but that is the same for Fran (Kirby) and Beth (Mead),” Wiegman said.

“(Mead) is so positive and she’s going really well. But we set the time schedule she had. We would have taken so many risks to try and get her to the World Cup. (But) to push her too much (could mean) she gets injured again.”

Wiegman’s European champions start their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 and will also take on Denmark and China in Group D.

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Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), 31 years old, 104 caps.

The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner sometimes seemed constrained during last summer’s European Championship success — the touch map for which is below — but she’s performed well for England since, showing flashes of attacking brilliance and offering the ability to drift inside and make direct runs towards goal, as well as more traditional overlapping runs.

Bronze has fitted in well at Barcelona. With 104 caps, she is England’s most experienced player.

Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 22 years old, four caps

One of many versatile back-up defenders at Wiegman’s disposal. She played centre-back in the 2-0 defeat at Brentford in April, although for Manchester City this season has become more accustomed to being fielded at left-back or right-back, offering good quality on the ball and reliable, understated defending.

Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 23 years old, six caps

A full-back capable of playing on either flank – she spent much of the first half of the season on the right, and much of the second on the left. She’s also capable of playing wide in midfield, albeit as a defensive-minded option usually tasked with shutting down the game.

Wiegman has generally been a little sceptical about her, and she missed out on last summer’s Euro 2022 selection, but she is a reliable squad player.

Read more below from Michael Cox and Thom Harris.

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(Photo: Getty Images)