Ella Morris, a defender for Tottenham, has withdrawn from Sarina Wiegman’s England squad due to a significant knee injury sustained during training.
The 22-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament injury and has returned to Tottenham for rehabilitation. This setback means she will miss the Women’s Euros this summer. Despite not yet debuting for the Lionesses, Morris had aimed to participate in their Women’s Nations League match against Portugal.
Morris became a regular starter for Spurs towards the end of the season, starting in 10 Women’s Super League matches. She has also represented England at Under-17, Under-19, and Under-23 levels. Her absence adds to Wiegman’s challenges as key defender Millie Bright is also unavailable due to an extended recovery period. Additionally, goalkeeper Mary Earps has retired from international football.
Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown has been called up as Morris’ replacement for upcoming fixtures. This marks her third senior call-up. England is set to face Portugal on May 30 before heading to Spain on June 3 for their final Women’s Nations League group match. Their defence of the Euros title will commence on July 5 against France.
The Lionesses expressed support for Morris through social media, stating: “We’re all with you, @ellabmorris.” The tweet confirmed her ACL injury and return to Tottenham Hotspur for rehabilitation while announcing Blindkilde Brown’s addition to the squad at St. George’s Park.
This series of events highlights the challenges faced by the England squad as they prepare for crucial matches without some key players. The team must adapt quickly with new additions like Blindkilde Brown stepping into pivotal roles.