Houghton not planning to end England career with World Cup on horizon

Soccer Football – Women’s International Friendly – England Training – St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent, Britain – June 13, 2022 England’s Steph Houghton during training Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough/Files

Sept 22 (Reuters) – England defender Steph Houghton said she was frustrated to miss the Women’s European Championship but the 34-year-old has no plans to call time on her international career ahead of the World Cup in 2023.

Houghton, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in September 2021 and later underwent surgery, was left out of Sarina Wiegman’s squad that went on to win the Euros in front of their home fans after beating Germany in the final in July.

Houghton returned to action for Manchester City this season and said it was too soon to follow club and country team mates Jill Scott and Ellen White into retirement.

Scott and White announced they were hanging up their boots in August after helping England win the Euros.

“I really don’t want to end my England career with an injury,” she wrote in The Players Tribune on Wednesday.

“I know Jill and Ellen have gone out on a high and it was the right moment for them, but I’m just not ready to close that chapter yet.

“That said, I know I’ve got to be realistic, and there will be conversations with Sarina over the next few months. We’ll see what happens next, but right now, I’m just determined to enjoy every moment.”

The World Cup will be played in July-August in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford

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