Georgia Stanway confident she can step into Keira Walsh role

Georgia Stanway has stated she is confident of being able to step into Keira Walsh’s shoes when England play China in their final Women’s World Cup group game on Tuesday.

Walsh was stretchered off the pitch after 38 minutes against Denmark with a knee problem that was later confirmed not to be a dreaded ACL injury. Yet the crucial midfielder will be absent for at least the China clash, with her overall World Cup also still hanging in the balance.

Stanway has partnered Walsh in midfield for the Lionesses ever since injured captain Leah Williamson returned to the centre of defence in the build up to Euro 2022, having previously already been Manchester City teammates for many years. Now without Walsh, Stanway’s role shifts into the ‘six’ position away from her preferred usual more attacking role as an ‘eight’.

“I think for me it’s just covering that discipline element into the game, knowing I don’t always have to be running to help with the attack,” she 24-year-old said. “That position comes naturally to me because I’ve played it a little bit at club.

“I’ve played alongside Keira, who is the best teacher without knowing it. Going into tomorrow, it’s about communicating in the middle of the pitch. We’ll pose a different challenge.”

England boss Sarina Wiegman touched on Walsh’s injury, not offering any more information aside from the initial statement released over the weekend, yet believes England’s chances at beating China are just as good with or withouth the Barcelona midfielder.

“Keira is okay, we said that it’s not an ACL, I can’t give you any more information. We are only focusing on the game tomorrow. After that, we will continue,” Wiegman said.

“I think we have a strong enough team. I think every game we want to be at our best. We know she’s not available. Now we have a group of 22, we have our solutions and we’ll show that. We have to move on. It’s part of sport, and it’s not nice, but you have to move on and adapt to the new situation and find a way.”

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Stanway reflected on how her role already changed during the Denmark game after Walsh went off.

“The other day against Denmark, my role was predominantly a defensive one. I have to make sure I’m covering the back four, and I’m disciplined. I just need to stay on my feet and make sure theres players in front of me,” she explained.

Beyond losing a teammate, Stanway is missing her best friend on the pitch – their off-field relationship is something that has made their midfield partnership so effective.

“It’s always difficult in that moment to see your teammate, who is also my best friend, go down and in such pain,” Stanway continued. “We will support her as much as we can. There’s 22 players who need to step up and we’ll do what we can for her tomorrow. She’ll be watching.”

Walsh is the latest senior player to suffer an injury, with Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead already missing the tournament. Ellen White and Jill Scott have also retired since the Euros, taking all their experience and leadership qualities out of the squad too.

“Yeah I woke up this morning feeling a lot more mature!,” Stanway joked, when asked about taking a more senior role. “No, obviously I’ve just created a little bit of a leadership role with the way that I’m playing. I feel a lot of confidence in my own game and I’ve been consistent off the back of the Euros so I’m just trying to keep that momentum. I feel I’ve proven my leadership in how I play and lead by example. I’m not afraid to communicate as well, so I’ll try and do the two jobs.”