Keira Walsh has not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, England have confirmed.
The midfielder was substituted during Friday’s 1-0 win against Denmark in the Lionesses’ second game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
There had been fears she would join the likes of Beth Mead and Leah Williamson in falling victim to an ACL injury.
In an update today, England confirmed Walsh has been ruled out of Tuesday’s final Group D match against China in Adelaide.
The Barcelona star will remain at the Lionesses’ Terrigal base in Australia to continue her recovery.
In a statement, the England team said: ‘Her knee injury will continue to be assessed by England medical staff and no further update will be provided at this stage.’
Play had been halted on Friday after Walsh fell to the ground, clutched her leg and mouthed: ‘I’ve done my knee’.
Pundits had suggested a dry pitch at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium could have caused Walsh to injure herself.
‘I think it’s gutting,’ former England defender Gilly Flaherty had said after witnessing the injury on commentary duties for the BBC.
‘I am looking now at the pictures of Keira Walsh. She looks upset.
‘It’s not good to see and it’s just fingers crossed that it isn’t what we think it is [an ACL injury]. You feel sick at the thought it could potentially be another ACL.’
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis had added: ‘Keira Walsh looks like she has said “I’ve done my knee” – an ongoing, ever-present unfortunate discussion that we are having in women’s football.
‘Her studs get caught in the ground, not a lot of contact, and we all know what that means. We’re just hoping that the outcome is different for Keira Walsh.
‘Those down moments that make you sick to the pit of your stomach are hard to ignore, but England need to keep their minds on the task in hand.’
An early goal by Chelsea star Lauren James ensured England did succeed over Denmark.
Speaking after the match, the 21-year-old said it was a ‘dream come true’ to score her first World Cup goal – on her debut no less.
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