In a blow to the Lionesses' preparations, young attacker Keira Barry has been forced to withdraw from the England squad due to a persistent ankle injury. Head coach Sarina Wiegman confirmed the setback to media in Reykjavik, where England is set to face Iceland in a crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifier this Saturday.

The 20-year-old, who received her first senior call-up just last week, was unable to recover in time for the trip. This comes after she was an unused substitute in England's narrow 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley, a testament to her rapid rise through the ranks after impressive performances for both the England U-23s and her NWSL club, Bay FC.

Wiegman expressed her disappointment, stating, "Unfortunately, Keira Barry had to leave us. She has had some ankle problems and she didn’t get ready to be available for tomorrow." For Barry, the focus now shifts to recovery and returning to peak fitness with her club.

While missing a major qualifier is a setback, her future in the national team setup remains bright. Barry will be aiming to regain her form and fitness quickly, hoping to put herself back in contention for selection when England concludes this initial World Cup qualifying phase in June.