Sarina Wiegman has insisted the door is not closed for Hannah Hampton, despite the goalkeeper not being included in an England squad since Euro 2022 and being dropped by Aston Villa boss Carla Ward following an unspecified incident.
Hampton was handed her England debut by Wiegman in February and was understudy to Mary Earps at the European Championships, alongside Ellie Roebuck. However, she has not been selected in the three subsequent post-Euros squads, with Sandy MacIver called up in her place. MacIver has not played a minute in the WSL for Manchester City this season.
After being declared fit for her side’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday, Ward opted to leave the 21-year-old out of the squad ‘in the best interests of the team’ due to an incident that occurred on the Saturday.
“It’s actually the same reason as what I said in September, nothing changed so that’s basically what it is,” Wiegman replied when asked about Hampton’s omission. “[It’s] something personal which I would really not like to comment on.
“The door is always open so when players perform and they perform consistently at club, then they have a chance to make the squad
“I haven’t spoke to her myself. We have made a plan. It’s now, she is at the club and taking care of that. We are supporting and that’s where we are right now.”
Hampton had been Villa’s number one at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, starting her side’s first two WSL fixtures. However, she then sat out Villa’s next three matches through injury, with Anna Leat impressing in her place.
Speaking after Aston Villa’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea, Ward said: “Hannah was available, something happened yesterday and we decided yesterday it was in the best interests of the team and the squad for her to stay at home so I did exactly that.”
“I don’t really want to say [anymore] on the matter. I made the decision in the best interests of the team to leave her at home, I left her at home and would probably prefer to talk about the 11 that were here.”
Credit: 90min.com
