Fran Kirby: Chelsea and England midfielder confirms she will miss World Cup

Fran Kirby was portion of England's palmy Euro 2022 squad

Chelsea and England midfielder Fran Kirby volition miss the World Cup due to the fact that of a genu occupation that requires surgery.

A "gutted" Kirby aboriginal confirmed connected societal media that her World Cup ambitions were over.

It is the latest wounded setback for England brag Sarina Wiegman, who has besides mislaid skipper Leah Williamson.

"Unfortunately aft a fewer months of rehab the determination has been made that I volition necessitate country connected my knee," Kirby said connected Twitter.

"I person been trying my champion to not person to acquisition this but unluckily my advancement has been limited."

She added: "I'm perfectly gutted to denote that this means my play is implicit and I volition not beryllium capable to marque the World Cup.

"I'm going to beryllium doing everything imaginable to beryllium acceptable for the commencement of adjacent season."

Kirby sustained the wounded successful the League Cup semi-final against West Ham successful February.

Arsenal defender Williamson's World Cup imagination was ended by an anterior cruciate ligament wounded suffered successful April.

The European champions besides expect to beryllium without Arsenal guardant Beth Mead, who finished apical scorer past summer, due to the fact that of an ACL injury, portion Chelsea defender Millie Bright is continuing to retrieve from a genu wounded she sustained successful March.

The World Cup begins connected 20 July.

'Latest England stroke arguably the biggest' - analysis

BBC Sport's Emma Sanders

This latest wounded stroke to 1 of England's cardinal players is arguably the astir significant. Kirby is 1 of the country's astir talented footballers and has often been described by team-mates and coaches arsenic a subordinate who tin single-handedly triumph matches.

She started each lucifer astatine Euro 2022, providing a originative spark and intricate attacking build-up play which proved important en way to victory.

Her England understudy Ella Toone volition beryllium a beardown replacement astatine the World Cup but Kirby's qualities volition nary uncertainty beryllium a large loss.

It is besides a immense stroke for Chelsea arsenic they proceed their quest to triumph a 4th successive Women's Super League rubric and the FA Cup. When fit, Kirby has built a formidable concern with superstar guardant Sam Kerr.

Having been plagued by wounded and unwellness passim her career, it is simply a bittersweet ending to Kirby's play and the World Cup this summertime volition beryllium worse for her absence.