England’s Walsh out of next game but will stay at World Cup

Keira Walsh will miss England’s next Women’s World Cup game but did not suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will remain with the squad in Australia, the European champions said Saturday.

The Barcelona midfielder was stretchered off in tears in England’s 1-0 win over Denmark on Friday and there were fears she was the latest women’s football star to suffer a serious knee injury.

But England said on Saturday that while she will miss their final group game against China on Tuesday, when they will hope to seal a place in the last 16, the injury is not as bad as first feared.

“Following a scan late on Saturday afternoon, we can confirm Keira Walsh has not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury,” England said in a statement.

“Walsh has been ruled out of Tuesday’s final Group D match against China in Adelaide and will remain at England’s Terrigal base to continue her recovery.

“Her knee injury will continue to be assessed by England medical staff and no further update will be provided at this stage.”

The news will come as a huge relief to coach Sarina Wiegman and England fans.

Walsh was a key member of the team that won the Euro last year and seen as central to England’s hopes of lifting the World Cup for the first time.

Last September she moved from Manchester City to Barcelona for a reported 400,000 pounds ($508,000), a world record for a woman footballer.