England are blessed with a wealth of midfield talent, with a mix of experience and exciting young players looking to break into the team.
Who is determined to be a starter in midfield? And who should Wiegman turn to to make an impact off the bench?
Fara Williams: Keira Walsh has years ahead of her, but when you don’t have competition it’s very easy to become complacent. I think we need to find the next Keira, who will compete with her, improve her and push her. If you look right in front of her, I think Stanway’s position is clear. What she brings to the England team is a little different. Then there is that debate of who plays alongside her. Fran Kirby has hit top form with Brighton and appears to be playing with confidence. Grace Clinton, with Manchester United, continues at the same level she had at Tottenham.
Steph Houghton: When you are in these competitions and you play every three or four days, physicality is a big thing. What I see in Grace Clinton is that ability to go back, defend and be present in the box, but now she is adding goals to her game. She hasn’t had that experience, but for me, over these next six months it’s crucial that Sarina gives her the opportunity to get that position. For me it’s Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Grace Clinton. Jess Park is a fantastic player in that position: she can run behind defenses but also create and score goals.
Fara Williams: Then there’s Ella Toone, who’s probably on the outskirts of that. I’m not sure if he’s playing at the level he’s reached in recent seasons. For me he is not a starter yet.
