Mary Earps replica shirt sells out after belated Nike release

Nike's replica jersey for England goalkeeper Mary Earps apparently sold out within hours of its release on Monday, after the company had faced widespread criticism for not previously selling the popular Women's World Cup finalist's shirt.

In an Instagram post, Earps said she had not been not aware the jerseys would be going on sale, but thanked followers for their "incredible support."

Earps also said the jerseys had sold out on the same day they were released. Nike would not comment on whether the jersey sold out, or how many it sold, but the shirts do not currently appear for sale on its website or through the England Football Association's website. In a statement, the company said that "more will be for sale later this season."

Earps was one of the standout stars of the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, earning FIFA's Golden Glove award. She was voted England Women's Player of the Year

Nike previously faced backlash from fans and from Earps herself after replicas of the goalkeeper's jersey were not made available during the competition, which ended on 20 August with a Spain victory against England.

She said at the time: "For my own family, friends and loved ones not to be able to buy my shirt, they're just going to come out and wear normal clothes. All my team-mates, they’ve ordered a lot of shirts for their friends and family, they’re talking at the dinner table 'I wasn’t able to get this' and I’m saying 'I wasn’t able to get it at all'.

"I know there’s a lot of people who have spent a tremendous amount of money on outfield shirts and then put '1 Earps’ on the back, which doesn’t sit well with me either. It's a very scary message that’s being sent to goalkeepers worldwide that 'you’re not