England could be without both their first-choice centre-backs for Thursday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, with captain Steph Houghton struggling with an ankle injury and Millie Bright laid low with a sickness bug that is sweeping the camp.
Houghton was stamped on near the end of England’s chaotic 3-0 win over Cameroon on Sunday and she has been unable to train fully over the past two days, while Bright has complained of feeling unwell — just as Lucy Bronze did before missing training yesterday, although the full-back has since shaken off the bug.
Being without Houghton would be a major blow and manager Phil Neville has given her no better than a 50-50 chance of recovering.
If she and Bright miss out, Abbie McManus and Leah Williamson would be the likely replacements.
Neville said of Houghton and Bright: “They’re both major doubts — Steph because of the tackle and Millie with a virus that’s going through the camp.
“She’s more of a doubt than Steph. We’re going to give her until the last minute to be fit. It’s sickness, just a simple virus she’s picked up. She’s in a room recovering.
“With [Williamson and McManus] we just bring two people in who know the system and the style. We have utter confidence in them. It’s a seamless transition.
“You plan for these moments. We don’t want to get to a quarter-final and throw a young kid in who doesn’t know our system or style. There’s been a plan behind my rotation and it’s for moments like this. I’m totally relaxed. I’d put my life on Leah and Abbie to be the best players on the pitch.”
There was better news, though, on right-back Bronze. “She’s fine,” Neville said.
“You’re going to pick up bugs, it’s par for the course.”
However, the Norway camp believe England are playing mind games over Houghton, with goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth saying: “It’s nice for them to let me think she’s injured but I think she’s going to play. Nice one!”
If England win tomorrow, they will face either reigning champions USA or hosts France — two of the strongest teams in the tournament — in a semi-final in Lyon on Tuesday.
