An injury update on Leah Williamson has been shared by Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman, with one England player forced to pull out of the squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

England head coach Sarina Wiegman has shared a fresh update on captain Leah Williamson ahead of the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifier against Iceland, following her absence in the recent win over Spain.

Williamson has endured a difficult season with injuries. She began the campaign recovering from a knee problem suffered during England’s European Championship triumph, delaying her first appearance for Arsenal Women until mid-December. A calf injury in January ruled her out for another month, and just as she was regaining form, a hamstring issue sidelined her again, leaving her without a competitive appearance for over four weeks.

Despite these setbacks, Wiegman included the defender in the latest squad after she resumed training with Arsenal. However, she was not risked in the match against Spain at Wembley, with the manager emphasizing caution and stating it would be unwise to rush her back into high-intensity action too soon.

Ahead of the Iceland clash, Wiegman confirmed that Williamson is now fit and will train with the team, though a final decision on her involvement will be made after assessing her condition in training. Her continued presence in the camp suggests she is close to a return.

In contrast, Keira Barry has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to an ankle injury. The young forward, who recently joined Bay FC from Manchester United, had earned her first senior call-up but has now returned to her club to recover.

Williamson’s return would be significant not only for England but also for Arsenal, who face a demanding schedule that includes a Women’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon and a congested run of league fixtures. However, England can take confidence from their defensive display against Spain, where a centre-back pairing of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan impressed with a clean sheet against the world champions.

The Lionesses will look to build on that result when they face Iceland, aiming to stay top of their qualifying group, with only the group winners guaranteed automatic progression to next summer’s tournament.