Going into the clash with Spain, Taylor Hinds had started all of England’s last three, and four of their last five, games at left-back. But the Arsenal defender was muscled out of the line-up for the match at Wembley, replaced by Greenwood. Asked by ITV ahead of that game if Greenwood was her first-choice left-back, Wiegman simply replied: “Yes, she is.”
It can feel like Groundhog Day when talking about England’s conundrum in the position. The Lionesses have long lacked natural options there, often forcing others to play out of position to fill the gap, with it standing out as a real weak spot in the team as a result. Wiegman has looked at plenty of emerging options to address this problem, with the likes of Anouk Denton, Poppy Pattinson and Hinds given caps.
The latter has received the majority of those chances since her first call-up back in October, which has largely coincided with the absence of Niamh Charles, who plays the position for Chelsea and has had spells as a regular there with England. But Greenwood’s recent run of games at left-back for Manchester City, rather than at centre-back, has clearly had a big impact on Wiegman’s thinking, leading to Greenwood starting both of the Lionesses’ games this week in that position.
With Charles also returning to the squad this month for the first time since December, and being introduced for Greenwood in the latter stages of Saturday’s win over Iceland, it feels like the pecking order at left-back has a totally different look to it now when compared to last month. Unfortunately for Hinds, it seems it is she who has slipped down that ranking.
