Forward Lauren Hemp “will be in the squad” for Manchester City’s next game against Leicester after five months out with a knee injury, says interim boss Nick Cushing.
The 24-year-old has not played since 8 November but took part in training with City on Friday after recovering from surgery.
“Lauren Hemp will be in the squad for the Leicester game as it stands,” Cushing said after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Everton in the Women’s Super League.
“She’s trained with the team, she probably just didn’t do enough team training to make the game today.
“She’ll definitely be in the squad for Leicester and she’s really hungry to start helping the team.”
The England international is one of several key players battling to regain full fitness in time for the Lionesses’ defence of their European Championship title in Switzerland in July.
Her City team-mate Alex Greenwood is continuing her recovery after surgery on a medial collateral ligament (MCL) knee injury, while Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway also remains out after tearing the lateral ligament in her right knee during a training session in January.
Chelsea also announced on Friday that Lionesses forward Lauren James has “sustained a hamstring injury and will be out for a period of time”.
England manager Sarina Wiegman confirmed Hemp’s knee issue was not an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury when asked about it in November.
An injury of that severity would in all probability have ruled her out of England’s Euros plans, but Hemp – who usually features as a winger – will now look to build towards full match fitness.
Prior to her injury, Hemp was one of the standout performers in the WSL this season, scoring twice and assisting five times in seven matches.
City sat at the top of the WSL table when Hemp sustained her knee injury in November, but a poor run of form, an injury crisis and a managerial shuffle has seen the club drop to fourth – 12 points off leaders Chelsea.
The club are currently without her and captain Greenwood, along with top scorer Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema, Aoba Fujino, Jill Roord and Mary Fowler.
Rebecca Knaak, Laura Coombs, Naomi Layzell and keeper Ayaka Yamashita have also missed a significant number of games this season.
