England Women manager Sarina Wiegman has admitted that Arsenal Women forward Beth Mead needs a "miracle" to make this summer's World Cup.
The 27-year-old remains on the long road to recovery from an ACL rupture, which she sustained during a Women's Super League clash with Manchester United in November.
Having led the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory with a tournament-high six goals last summer, Mead would have been central to England's hopes of a maiden World Cup triumph.
The Lionesses finalise their preparations for the World Cup with fixtures against Brazil and Australia this month, and Wiegman named a largely recognisable squad on Tuesday afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, there was no place for Mead in the ranks, and Wiegman has admitted that she is currently planning for the World Cup without the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner.
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"It's being realistic, and she was very realistic. What we said now is, she's not in our plans now, just to really take the time to get back well," Wiegman told a press conference.
"If a miracle happens and she goes [through recovery] so fast, we will reconsider it, but at this moment I don't expect that."
Elaborating to BBC Radio 5 Live, Wiegman admitted that Mead was desperate to represent England at the World Cup, but the Arsenal forward has accepted that the situation is out of her hands.
"She's done really well in her rehabilitation. But if you look at the timescale you normally have with an injury like this she would not make the World Cup," Wiegman added.
"We had that discussion. We're not going to push or take risks that will cause this injury again. Of course she wants to play, but she knows."
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Following her role in England's historic Euros triumph, Mead came second in the vote for the Ballon d'Or Feminin and UEFA Player of the Year, both of which were won by Barcelona's Alexia Putellas.
Mead also finished joint-second in the vote for the Best FIFA Women's Player alongside Alex Morgan, and she was named in the FIFA FIFPRO Women's World XI.
The 27-year-old's fellow attacker Bethany England is another notable absentee from the squad, having been left out despite scoring five goals in her last six WSL games with Tottenham Hotspur.
However, there is a recall for Aston Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who has not linked up with the England squad since Euro 2022 due to personal reasons.
The Lionesses host South American champions Brazil in the inaugural edition of the Women's Finalissima at Wembley on April 6 before welcoming Australia to Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium for a friendly five days later.
England have been drawn against Haiti, Denmark and China in Group D of the 2023 Women's World Cup and will commence their campaign against the former on July 22.
Ben Knapton
