• Bright was absent from the friendly match against Portugal

• Still recovering from knee surgery
• Integrate for Leos with Williamson out with ACL

WHAT HAPPENED? 29-year-old Bright is yet to recover from the injury she suffered with Chelsea during the season. The Euro winner has been sidelined since March following a knee injury that required surgery and does not want to rush back as she has not trained with the team.

WHAT DID THEY SAY: “My knee is really good. I thought people outside would have a hard time because today is the first time you see me on the field but actually I have been playing since the first camp. I have only just trained. individual training, tick the boxes to prepare me for when I can return to the team,” the Lionesses midfielder said of her progress so far.

“I think Saturday will be a bit early. I’m not back with the girls and I don’t want to rush. Obviously, we have a lot of time until the first game. I don’t want to do that.” that but at the same time, I’m exactly where I want to be,” the Chesterfield-born defender added.

BIGGER PICTURE: The availability of the Chelsea centre-back is key for Sarina Weigman’s side as they lost their captain and starting centre-back, Leah Williamson, to an ACL injury earlier in the season. Williamson joins Arsenal teammate and women’s Euros 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, Beth Mead, on the list of players who will be absent due to the ACL for the upcoming World Cup.

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? Weigman’s side will face Portugal in the final friendly before the World Cup. They face Haiti, Denmark and China in the framework of Group D.