Ellen White to miss England vs Netherlands after positive Covid-19 test | OneFootball

Ellen White will miss England's penultimate pre-Euro 2022 friendly against the Netherlands on Friday evening after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Manchester City forward has travelled home and will be monitored regularly, with a view to returning to the camp as soon as possible.

A replacement has not been called up in White's absence, meaning the Lionesses will face the Netherlands with a squad of 22 at Elland Road on Friday 24 June.

England then travel to Zurich to face Switzerland in their final pre-Euro 2022 friendly on Thursday 30 June, before kicking off the tournament against Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July.

White was top scorer for England at the 2019 World Cup and for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, and has been the Lionesses' first choice striker under both Phil Neville and Sarina Wiegman.

She started England's recent friendly victory over Belgium, meaning Wiegman may have been planning to give one of the Lionesses other striking options an opportunity against the Netherlands prior to White's positive test.

Alessia Russo and Beth England are the other two central strikers in their Euro 2022 squad and both come off the back of strong domestic seasons for their clubs.

Russo chipped in with nine goals and four assists in the WSL for Manchester United, while England finished the season with a flourish after seeing her game time restricted for Chelsea at the start of the campaign, netting seven goals in her final nine appearances.

Rachel Daly and Fran Kirby can also be deployed as centre-forwards should Wiegman find herself short of striking options, while centre-back Millie Bright is no stranger to a cameo up front following her Arnold Clark Cup goal scoring antics.