With Lionesses Captain, Leah Williamson ruled out of the World Cup squad with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in April and Lionesses vice-Captain, Millie Bright, out since March with a knee injury, the England back-line is missing international experience and leadership.
Enter former Lionesses Captain Steph Houghton. These traits are her fortè. The credentials are there: over 100 England caps. Tick. Olympian. Tick. World Cup bronze medalist Tick. WSL title winner. Tick. The list goes on.
But, since April 2022, the 35-year-old has failed to earn a cap since before Sarina Wiegman’s era, with the captaincy being transferred to Williamson just before the European Championships last summer.
Following her most recent omission from the squad in April this year, Houghton went uncharacteristically public about her disappointment. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Houghton said, “Sometimes no matter what you do, you’re not going to please someone. I just want closure on the situation. Have I got a chance or is it not possible?”
(All photos: Getty Images)
