Steph Houghton ‘really disappointed’ to miss out on another England squad

Steph Houghton is not in the England squad for the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup that starts next week, after the Manchester City captain aggravated the achilles injury she sustained in September.

The 33-year-old defender returned to action in early January but played only five times before being sidelined again and will miss the four-team tournament in which England face Canada, Spain and Germany.

“She is really, really disappointed of course but you need to do smart things too,” said England’s manager, Sarina Wiegman. “If you need more time to get fit you have to take that time, otherwise you’ll be out for a longer period and that’s what we don’t want, what Manchester City doesn’t want and what she doesn’t want.”

Houghton picked up an achilles injury during Wiegman’s first game in charge, an 8-0 defeat of North Macedonia last September, and is in a race to prove her fitness for the rigours of a home Euros which kick off on 6 July.

“She did well when she came out of the winter break, she played well, but now she needs a bit more time to get fit again,” said Wiegman. “Hopefully she’ll recover in a short while and can build up some playing minutes.”

Wiegman has been able to call in Houghton’s clubmates Lucy Bronze and Ellie Roebuck for the first time after both missed the past three camps through injury. Arsenal’s Leah Williamson is also back, having captained the team in Wiegman’s first camp before being injured for November’s matches, but Chelsea’s Beth England is out injured.

Goalkeepers Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck

Defenders Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy

Midfielders Fran Kirby, Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott,