Women’s football

SARINA WIEGMAN hailed Leah Williamson’s England return from injury, but was tight-lipped on if she will skipper the side this month.And the Lionesses chief wants Fifa and Uefa to sort out match scheduling and congestion issues so players can “stay fit and fresh”.
Leah Williamson could play for England this month following her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injuryCredit: Reuters
Williamson’s last England appearance was back in April last year when the Lionesses beat Brazil to win the Women’s FinalissimaCredit: AP
England boss Sarina Wiegman also named Manchester City forward Jess Park in her 23-strong squadCredit: PA
The head coach expressed delight in including Williamson, 26, in her squad ahead of England’s first two international fixtures for this year.
The Lioness centre-back’s recall comes a month on from her return to action for Arsenal, after her successful recovery from a knee ligament tear sustained last April.
England will play Austria next Friday in a friendly ay the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Spain before facing Italy on February 27.
And Wiegman, 53, revealed Williamson, who skippered the Lionesses to 2022 Euros glory might not pull on the captain’s armband for these two fixtures.
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She said: “It’s really nice to have her back because she’s a very good player.
“Even though she has been out for months, her decision-making (on the pitch) is still good and yes – she’s still building.
“I think the team picked up last year very well. The players stepped up but it’s really good to have her back.”
Williamson’s anterior cruciate ligament saw her miss England’s World Cup run last summer with the team reaching the tournament’s final for the first time.  
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Her last Lionesses appearance saw her skipper the side to a Women’s Finalissima triumph over Brazil at Wembley last April.
On whether the WSL ace will skipper the side against Austria and Italy, Wiegman added: “I have to talk to the players about that.
“It’s also a new moment so she’ll start again. We’ll probably revisit that and have a conversation with the group.”
England’s February fixtures will be used by Wiegman and her players as part of their preparation for qualifiers for next summer’s Euros.
The team, who will play in their first qualifier games in April, are eager to win back-to-back Euros trophies.
Away from the pitch, Wiegman insists match scheduling needs to be looked at to ensure players have adequate rest between seasons.
England are among the sides who have played in successive tournaments over the past three summers.
And it’s led to WSL stars and players from domestic leagues having shorter breaks ahead of the start of new domestic seasons.
Wiegman said: “What the players want and what they ask all the time too is ‘where is the rest for us?’, because they want to compete.
“We want the players to be fit and fresh.
“This means that you always need a proper rest, but you also need to train between June and July too.
“We’ve had some conversations with clubs, and these have been good conversations,
“But we still don’t always have solutions for that period. Fifa and Uefa need to solve that for the players.
Wiegman’s 23-strong squad selection saw Manchester City forward Jess Park recalled alongside uncapped goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Tottenham midfielder Grace Clinton, on loan at Spurs from Man United this term, was also included.
But there was no recall for in-form Red Devils forward Nikita Parris.
The Man United ace has netted 15 goals in her last 16 games across all competitions. And Wiegman admits it was a hard call to leave her out.
Nikita Parris has shone for Manchester United this term but was left out of Wiegman’s squadCredit: Getty
The England boss added: “Of course, the competition up front is really high and she didn’t play much (for Man United) in the Autumn.
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“Since then, she’s played well as a number nine.
“I’ve spoken to her, and I hope she has more consistency there. I have gone with other players but it was a tough decision.” More

GARETH TAYLOR hailed Khiara Keating after Manchester City stood firm against Arsenal to end the Gunners’ FA Cup run.The goalkeeper shone despite being jeered by her opponents’ raucous fans during City’s 1-0 fifth-round victory.
Khiara Keating helped Man City take their unbeaten run to 12 games since last NovemberCredit: Getty
The City goalkeeper kept her fourth clean sheet in a row since the end of January with her team reaching this year’s FA Cup quarter-finalCredit: PA
Laia Aleixandri netted the winner for Gareth Taylor’s side in the 75th minuteCredit: Getty
The result came three months after an error from Keating saw the Gunners beat 2-1 in the WSL.
This time around was the Cityzen starlet who had the last laugh with her shot-stopping heroics helping to end Arsenal hopes of reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.
City chief Taylor said: “This is like redemption for her. What was going on inside (her head) I don’t know.
“But I think she’s been preparing herself for weeks. She has been telling me that.
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“Khiara was excellent with what she had to do and what she had to go through – particularly at the beginning of the game with the verbals from the crowd.
“Arsenal make it a cauldron here (at Meadow Park) but she handled it really well.
“The fans do get behind them and they really keep going and don’t stop. 
“But their attentions turned elsewhere after a while with Khiara which is good and shows you she was doing something right.
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“But I think it’s fantastic for a young player to know that you’re going to make mistakes in the game and that’s how you react. And she’s reacted so well since then.”
Some classy Keating saves late on in the game, including a stunning top corner stop, were among the efforts that saw Jonas Eidevall’s aces denied.
And her shift was watched by England boss Sarina Wiegman who was in the stands ahead of the Lionesses’ friendlies against Austria and Italy this month.
Taylor added: “It was just really nice for her to come away (with a clean sheet and win).
“Sometimes, there are skeletons in the wardrobe and there are skeletons that you’ve had in your career where you go to certain games (and grounds). 
“I’ve had it myself (as a player) where I’ve thought, ‘it’s a nightmare and I never played well in this stadium’, so it’s really nice when you flip it the other way.”
The early stages of the game saw both sides struggle to find a cutting edge.
Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord went closest in front of goal in with a shot prompting a 13th-minute save from Keating.
Later in the half City saw pleas for penalty waves away after Lotte Wubben-Moy appeared to elbow Khadija Shaw during an aerial duel. 
And Shaw prompted a brilliant save from Gunners’ goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo pushing her header away from its top corner target in the 61st minute.
The deadlock was broken 14 minutes later with Laia Aleixandri poking home following Chloe Kelly’s free-kick.
City then faced a late barrage including a Victoria Pelova goal-bound header palmed away by Keating with keeper later tipping Kim Little’s volley over the bar.
The hosts felt they may have had a goal with Keating’s catch initially appearing’ as if it had crossed the line.
But City held out to secure a win with Arsenal falling to a second defeat in a row across all contests.
Gunners boss Eidevall said: “It was a very tight game. We’re gutted because we were on the wrong side of every margin. It’s a tough one to take.”
A league cup last eight duel is up next for Arsenal with the title chasers visiting London City Lionesses on Wednesday.
On if a silverware win this term is crucial with the team having lifted one trophy in the past five years, Eidevall added: “We want to compete in every competition.
Jonas Eidevall insists Arsenal are determined to win silverware this seasonCredit: Getty
“That’s the ambition otherwise you shouldn’t be in this club or represent this club.
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“We want to win both competitions that we’re still in. That’s how ambitious we need to be.
“We also need to understand it’s a lot of hard work. It’s not entirely in our own control either.” More

WILLIE KIRK  insists Leicester are up for a quarter-final battle with any of the FA Cup’s big guns after trouncing Birmingham 6-2 on Saturday.Shannon O’Brien netted twice as the Foxes filled their boots in the contest’s fifth round.
Five different players netted for Leicester in their FA Cup fifth-round defeat of Birmingham CityCredit: Getty
Saori Takarada, Yuka Momiki, and Shannon O’Brien impressed for the FoxesCredit: Getty
Willie Kirk hopes Leicester will continue having a mix of Foxes names on the scoresheet in gamesCredit: Getty
Five different players were on the scoresheet for Leicester who were ruthless after going 1-0 behind.
Japanese pair Saori Takarada and Yuka Momiki shone for Kirk’s side with Takarada among the hosts’ scorers at Pirelli Stadium.
When asked if this was the highest-ever scoring win for Leicester in the Cup’s fifth round, Kirk said: “We don’t like to look too far back in terms of records.
“We want to keep focus on creating our own history. 

“And that’s been a big thing this year – we’ve achieved a lot of firsts, and we’ll continue to try to do that. 
“We’re a young club still with a young history. The thing that pleased me most is the five different goal scorers for the six goals.
“That’s been a feature for us this season.  I think our highest goal scorer might have only five (goals), but we’ve had double figures in terms of the different players who’ve scored. 
“It’s important this continues and that we’re unpredictable in terms of where goals come from. 
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“You would hate it if someone bagged four goals and you’re always relying on that single (number) nine.”
Arsenal, Manchester City, holders Chelsea and last year’s beaten finalists Man United, are among the WSL giants targeting a place in the contest’s last eight.
The Gunners and City will go head-to-head on Sunday lunchtime with Chelsea facing Crystal Palace and United up against Southampton.
And Kirk has no qualms about Leicester facing a top tier rival including those fighting it out for the league crown. 
The Foxes chief added: “At this stage of the competition you would take anybody (on).
“I look at the last time I went to an FA Cup final (when I was managing Everton) and we got Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
“I’ll make sure I say to the players that it doesn’t matter who we get. If those big teams are going to lose a game, it’s normally a quarter or a semi-final.”
The hosts found themselves behind after two minutes Birmingham captain Ellie Mason’s free-kick bouncing in off Missy Goodwin’s head for an own-goal. 
And after Momiki and Takorada tested Birmingham stopper Lucy Thomas, Janice Cayman levelled from close range in the 19th minute.
The hosts took a 2-1 lead four minutes later through O’Brien’s top corner finish before Blues’ Libby Smith levelled with a stylish chip. 
O’Brien’s slotted close-range strike restored the lead close to half-time. 
Leicester took things up a notch in the second half bagging three more goals. 
Takorada headed them 4-2 in front before subs Deanne Rose and Aileen Whelan got in on scoring to wrap up the win. 
Following their exit Birmingham’s focus will be back on their fight to return to the top tier with five Championship teams in promotion contention. 
The team are sat fifth in the second tier but just four points off leaders Charlton with a game in hand.
Birmingham City face promotion rivals Southampton next in the Women’s ChampionshipCredit: Getty
Brum boss Darren Carter said: “I love this competition (the FA Cup) and I’m gutted (we’re out but) everyone knows our aim this year.
“That’s to go and challenge and get this team back to the WSL.
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“We’ve got eight games to go now, and everyone is going to be huge. The players will be hungry, and they’ll be focused and ready.”
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RACHEL DALY has been hit with a three-match ban following an incident during Aston Villa’s clash with Bristol City on Saturday. Video footage shows the Villans striker appearing to elbow Robins captain Megan Connolly in the face during the WSL duel. 
Rachel Daly’s three-match ban follows the Aston Villa ace being penalised for violent conductCredit: Getty
Daly appeared to elbow Bristol defender Megan Connolly in the face during Villa’s clash with the RobinsCredit: Getty
The incident, which occurred in the 39th minute of the match, was not initially spotted by the referee.
But it was captured on camera during the encounter which ended as a 2-2 draw with the FA deciding that it constituted violent conduct.
Daly, who has made 13 appearances for Villa this term, has admitted to the FA’s charge and will serve the suspension.
The ban means the player will miss her side’s Conti Cup quarter-final duel against Brighton this evening.
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She will also be absent from their next two WSL games against Tottenham and Liverpool.
An FA statement on the incident said: “Her behaviour during the 39th-minute wasn’t seen by the match officials at the time but it was caught on camera.
“The FA alleged that it constitutes violent conduct.
“Rachel Daly has subsequently admitted this charge and accepted the automatic penalty for violent conduct.”
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Last term Daly was awarded the WSL’s Golden Boot after finishing the season as top scorer with 22 goals in 22 games.
Carla Ward’s side will face Brighton in the Conti Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Reuters
Her efforts helped Villa achieve their highest finish in the top-flight to date with the team claiming fifth spot.
This season has seen them initially struggle in the league losing eight of their 13 matches played.
However, Carla Ward’s side have picked up two wins and a draw from their last four WSL games. More