Fran Kirby in contention for FA Cup final after illness

Fran Kirby has given Chelsea a welcome boost as boss Emma Hayes declared the England forward will be available for selection for the Women’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.

A fatigue-related issue has kept Kirby sidelined for both club and country since February, leading to doubts about the 28-year-old’s availability for England for this summer’s European Championship.

Kirby last Sunday missed Chelsea’s coronation as Women’s Super League champions for a third successive season and Hayes revealed the initial plan was to gradually ease her back into training this week.

But a player Hayes describes as a “generational talent” was able to sufficiently come through the drills to the extent that she is now in contention to feature at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

“I don’t want to put any pressure on her because I love that kid and she’s been through a lot, but she’s looked like she hasn’t even been away,” Hayes said.

“She’s looked that good in training and it was nice to see a smile on her face. She’s participated in everything.

“At the beginning of the week she was saying ‘let’s see how it goes’. But she’s said ‘I’m fine’ (every time) and she’s been in training all week so I’m over the moon.”

Kirby was absent for much of the 2019-20 season after being diagnosed with pericarditis, a condition which affects the saclike tissue surrounding the heart, but was instrumental in Chelsea’s treble-winning campaign last year.

She scored 16 times in 20 appearances in all competitions to collect player of the year from the WSL, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Football Writers’ Association and was in fine fettle in this campaign until her health problems intervened again.

“I think she’s a generational talent,” Hayes