Mary Earps off injured in opening minutes of England's clash with France
England's No 1 Mary Earps was forced off in the opening exchanges of the Lionesses' Euro 2025 qualifier against France on Friday night due to injury
Goalkeeper Mary Earps was forced to leave the pitch in the early stages of England's Euro 2025 qualifier against France on Friday night due to an injury.
In the first minute at St. James' Park, the England goalkeeper showed signs of pain while controlling a pass from her defence and subsequently collapsed on the pitch in obvious discomfort.
The Manchester United shot-stopper, who was marking her 50th international appearance, received on-field treatment and appeared to be suffering severe pain in her hip flexor.
After being treated on the pitch, the 31-year-old managed to stand up to a round of applause, only to stop again, clearly in distress. However, wiping away tears, Earps persevered.
Less than two minutes later, England's No.1 was back on the ground, causing play to be stopped. Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was then called upon to replace Earps.
There were no known injury concerns for Earps ahead of Friday night's crucial match. This injury comes as women's football continues to grapple with a packed fixture schedule and increased demands on top-tier players.
That has led to calls for a re-evaluation of the calendar as injuries continue to mount.
The future of the world's top female goalkeeper, Earps, is currently shrouded in intense speculation.
With her contract at Man United expiring next month, negotiations are still underway with the club's board about a potential renewal.
Earps' stellar reputation as an elite shot-stopper has caught the eye of several big-name European clubs, who are keen to snap her up on a free transfer.
Earps was the target of the highest-ever bid for a female goalkeeper from Arsenal last summer but it's understood that Arsenal's interest has since cooled off.
Earps, who has been with United since 2019 and recently celebrated winning the Women's FA Cup at Wembley with her team, has put the ball firmly in United's court regarding her career decisions.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports, she expressed her position: "I've asked the club for some confirmation on what they're trying to achieve and when I have those answers I'll be able to make a decision. It's up to the club."
