CHELSEA AND ENGLAND forward Fran Kirby says she is “absolutely gutted” to be missing the World Cup after learning she will require surgery for a knee injury that will leave her out of action for a “significant period”.
Kirby, 29, who was unavailable for Sarina Wiegman’s most recent England squad in April, will also miss Chelsea’s challenge for a fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title and this month’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.
The news comes as another blow to the Lionesses and their head coach Wiegman, less than two weeks after captain Leah Williamson was ruled out of the World Cup after rupturing her ACL, while a timely recovery for Euro 2022 player of the tournament and Golden Boot winner Beth Mead from the same injury looks unlikely.
In a tweet posted following an official statement from her club, Kirby revealed efforts to rehabilitate the injury, sustained in Chelsea’s Continental League Cup semi-final win over West Ham in February, had failed to restore her fitness.
She wrote: “Unfortunately after a few months of rehab the decision has made that I will require surgery on my knee. I have been trying my best to not have to undergo this but unfortunately my progress has been limited due to the issue in my knee.
“I’m absolutely gutted to announce my season is over and I will not be able to make the World Cup in the summer.
“I’m going to be doing everything possible to be ready for the start of next season and want to wish my team-mates at Chelsea the best of luck for the rest of the season and my Lioness team-mates the best of luck for the summer.”
Kirby netted twice for England during last summer’s Euro 2022 triumph, against Northern Ireland in the group stage and Sweden in the semi-finals and has scored seven times for Chelsea in 13 appearances across all competitions this season.
Her absence means Wiegman will have to cope without another established player at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Kirby, a key member of England’s attack, has won 65 caps and scored 17 goals for her country.
Williamson was ruled out of the tournament after getting injured in Arsenal’s WSL defeat to Manchester United last month, while her club-mate Mead has not played since November and Wiegman said in March it would take a “miracle” for her to be fit in time.
Wiegman is set to announce her squad for the World Cup in late May.
