UK Women's Football
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Sandy MacIver has made herself unavailable for England selection for this summer’s World Cup.
The Manchester City goalkeeper says her focus “remains on (her) rehab”.
MacIver, 24, sustained an injury during the last international break in April, which caused her to withdraw from Sarina Wiegman’s squad where she was one of four goalkeepers selected alongside Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton and Ellie Roebuck.
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That injury curtailed her domestic season with City and MacIver has now provided an update on her condition on social media.
“I’ve taken the decision to make myself unavailable for England selection moving forward,” MacIver said. “My current focus remains on my rehab.
“I am making great progress and look forward to a fully fit pre-season with City. Wishing all the girls the best of luck in Australia!”
MacIver, whose sole England senior appearance came in 2021, joined City from Everton ahead of the 2022-23 Women’s Super League season. She made three WSL appearances before sustaining her injury, with fellow England international Roebuck remaining Gareth Taylor’s No 1 for most of the campaign.
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MacIver was Wiegman’s third choice behind Earps and Roebuck. Earps will remain as Wiegman’s No 1 but now MacIver has withdrawn the England boss has Roebuck and Hampton as options.
Hampton was recalled to the England squad for April’s internationals against Brazil and Australia having addressed some “personal issues”, according to Wiegman. She had not been selected since last summer’s European Championship and was absent from Aston Villa’s squad in October and November. She has since returned to Carla Ward’s starting XI and has helped them to a fifth-placed finish in the Women’s Super League.
MacIver’s absence could open the door for Manchester United goalkeeper Emily Ramsey. The 22-year-old Everton loanee was forced to withdraw from her first senior England call-up in February because of an ankle injury but has since recovered, starting Everton’s last two WSL fixtures.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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Charlotte Harpur is a women’s football writer for The Athletic UK. She was previously a junior editor for the news desk. Charlotte has written for The Daily Telegraph, The Times and finished in the top three of the 2018 SJA Student Sportswriter of the Year competition. Prior to The Athletic, she was head of French at a school in the East Midlands. Follow Charlotte on Twitter @charlotteharpur