Steph Houghton has not been included in England’s final 23-player squad for Euro 2022, marking the first time the Lionesses will go to a major tournament without the centre back since the 2009 European Championships.
Sarina Wiegman named her final squad for this summer’s championships on Wednesday, cutting five players from her provisional 28-player squad who have been in camp at St George’s Park since the final week of May.
Alongside Houghton, Sandy MacIver, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem and Lucy Staniforth were also omitted.
Unlimited changes can still be made to the squad up until the tournament kicks off on 6 July in the event of injury or illness.
Houghton – who has been capped 121 times and led the Lionesses at the last three major tournaments – has not played since January after undergoing surgery on her Achilles.
The centre back is yet to feature for England since Wiegman took the hot seat in September after suffering an Achilles injury during the Dutch manager’s first Lionesses camp.
Houghton returned to first team action with Manchester City at the turn of the year and made five WSL appearances, before undergoing surgery on her achilles in February and sitting out the remainder of the domestic season.
Leah Williamson was named England captain in Houghton’s place in April due to the continued doubts over her fitness, bringing an end to her eight-year stint with the armband.
The 34-year-old was given a chance to prove her fitness by Wiegman after being named in England’s 28-player provisional squad in May, and later revealed she was ‘confident’ that she would return to her best.
However, England boast greater strength in depth at centre back than they have ahead of previous major tournaments, with Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Jess Carter all included in the final squad.
England have a trio of friendlies prior to Euro 2022 kicking off, facing Belgium at Molineux on 16 June, the Netherlands at Elland Road on 24 June and Switzerland in Zurich on 20 June.
The Lionesses begin their Euro 2022 campaign against Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July.
