da bet vitoria： The Arsenal star is the only recognised centre-forward in her country's squad, an issue the reigning European champions should look to address

da dobrowin： Any fans arriving in Newcastle on Friday hoping to see Alessia Russo as England take on France could well be disappointed. Just seven days ago, the Arsenal star started – and scored in – a post-season friendly some 10,000 miles away, in Australia, meaning it seems unlikely that the only recognised centre-forward in the Lionesses squad will be in Sarina Wiegman's XI as qualifying for the 2025 European Championship resumes.

It's a situation that has seen plenty of issues around the schedule in football raised again, the kind of which Wiegman has spoken about many times over the last few months in particular, but it's also one that highlights how quickly the absence of Russo can leave England looking a little light up top.

The Lionesses might be stacked in the forward areas, but when it comes to No.9s, that's certainly not the case, and it's something that needs addressing as the reigning European champions build towards their title defence in Switzerland next summer.

Getty ImagesDifferent circumstances

When England triumphed at the Euros two years ago, this absolutely wasn't a problem. Ellen White led the line for the Lionesses, Russo provided an option off the bench, Bethany England and Nikita Parris were also in the squad, and there was even Rachel Daly available should any of those four be unavailable, the Aston Villa star playing at left-back in every game of that tournament.

But White hung up her boots shortly after the title win, England and Parris haven't been in Wiegman's squads all season long, and Daly dealt the team a blow last month when she announced that she would be retiring from international duty. The versatile veteran had been relieved of her duties in defence in recent times and become Russo's back-up, but a struggle for minutes made her decision less shocking than first appeared.

It's left England in more of a pickle than some might've thought, though.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGap to fill

That's because Daly has regularly been the only other recognised centre-forward that Wiegman has picked. The squad for these games against France was always going to be interesting in that regard, to see whether the Dutchwoman chose to bring someone like England or Parris back in, or gave a maiden call-up to Aggie Beever-Jones, the young Chelsea starlet who has had a breakthrough year but is still getting used to being a No.9, having come through as a winger.

In the end she picked the latter, who is certainly not unfamiliar with the central role, but joins a whole host of players in the England squad who have traits more used to the wide areas at this stage – such as Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead, who started as No.9s but are now almost exclusively wingers; Lauren Hemp, who plays both positions more frequently than most; and Lauren James, who prefers her wide role but has been used as a false nine when needed by Chelsea.

GettyBuilding relationships

Having such versatility throughout the squad is good, of course, but if you are throwing a player in as a No.9 sporadically, they can struggle to build the connections needed with the players around them. It's something that was apparent with Daly in her final year or so as an England player. Here was a natural No.9, someone who played there every week for her club, but it was evident that she could've done with more time on the pitch to develop relationships with the likes of Kelly, Hemp, James and Mead.

So often, Daly could be seen making a run that her team-mate didn't read, such was her different wants to Russo. And this was a real centre-forward. So while putting someone like Hemp in for a game or so can plug a gap, if England want another genuine option in that role, someone for rotation or to impact from the bench like Russo did when White was still playing, they need to identify who that player is and how to let them get to that point where they can make a real difference more often than not.

Getty ImagesDifferent paths to take

Beever-Jones could be that option Russo was two years ago. The Chelsea youngster has thrived across the frontline for the Blues this season and has played a lot as a No.9 for England's Under-23s, too, suggesting Wiegman does indeed see her in that role given how joined up the pathway is.

Of course, there is still a chance that someone like England or Parris could come back into the team. While Parris hasn't been involved since late 2022, England was called-up as recently as the World Cup and has spent most of the past season returning to fitness from hip surgery, hitting good form towards the end of it.

Alternatively, Wiegman may believe that, with the crop of wingers the Lionesses have to choose from at this time, utilising their versatility is an option to explore.