How will England replace captain Leah Williamson in the Lionesses' 2023 Women's World Cup squad?

When Williamson was missing from England squads during the first half of the season due to an ankle injury, it was Millie Bright, her centre-back partner, who took over the role as the Lionesses' captain.

The Chelsea defender is currently sidelined with her own knee injury and expected to be out for several weeks. But if she is fit in time for the World Cup, it is expected that she will wear the armband.

Another candidate for captaincy is Lucy Bronze. The Barcelona full-back has assumed the role before but not under Wiegman. She boasts a wealth of experience, having won 18 major honours - including three Champions League titles - with five different clubs.

Bronze is likely to be near the top of the list when it comes to the coach's options for the armband and could certainly come into consideration if Bright does not recover from the injury that has kept her out since late March.

Like Bright, Alex Greenwood has worn the captain's armband for England this season, leading the team out in the Arnold Clark Cup in February when they faced Italy. Not only is she a contender to take Williamson's role as skipper, though, but also her spot in the centre of defence.

Greenwood has often been Wiegman's go-to to play there when Williamson or Bright have been missing, or when Williamson has been deployed in midfield, and she is probably the most likely candidate to partner the latter at the 2023 Women's World Cup now.

When England were without Bright during the April international window, Wiegman moved Greenwood into centre-back and had her role at left-back, that she played in during February's games, filled by Jess Carter.

The Chelsea star is a very versatile player, capable of operating in any position in the backline and also in midfield. With Williamson dropping out of the line-up, moving Greenwood inside would open up a spot in the XI on the left of that defence that Carter could well be chosen to occupy.

Gabby George is unlikely to come into the England team and start after Williamson's injury, but she could win a recall to the squad as Wiegman looks to find cover for a left-back position that lacks players who are naturals there.

The Everton defender has had a brilliant season and was called up as recently as November because of her strong form. She hasn't been selected since, just missing out per the coach's comments, but is one of very few options the Lionesses have that has played on the left side of defence this campaign.

An alternative at left-back is Rachel Daly. After all, she started every game at Euro 2022 in that role as England went on to become European champions.

However, since that tournament, Wiegman has given Daly more opportunities in her more natural position - as a No.9. The Aston Villa forward appears to be putting real pressure on the Lionesses' first-choice striker Alessia Russo having been in fine form all season, currently second in the running for the Women's Super League's Golden Boot.

But for the World Cup, the England coach may turn to her to do a job in defence again given the role she played last summer.

If Daly is moved back into the defence, the butterfly effect could mean that Williamson's replacement in the squad is not necessarily like-for-like. Instead, it could be a forward to provide competition for Russo that Daly will not be doing by playing as a left-back.

That might open the door for Beth England, who has been unlucky to miss out on recent squads. The striker left Chelsea in January and joined Tottenham in a bid to earn more minutes and boost her chances of making the World Cup squad.

She's scored six goals in her first nine games for the club, which is a particularly impressive return given the lack of chances Spurs create, and would be an excellent addition to the attacking pool.

If that scenario plays out, another forward who could be brought in is Ebony Salmon, who missed the April camp but was part of England's Arnold Clark Cup squad in February. She plays her domestic football in the United States, where the new season only began in March.

Wiegman will announce her squad in late May, so if the 22-year-old can put together an impressive run of form between now and then, she could yet make the cut. If she does, she could go to the World Cup in red-hot form, too, given the calendar season.

One of the biggest decisions Wiegman has made during her time as England manager so far has been to take the captaincy from Steph Houghton and give it to Williamson.

The Manchester City centre-back, who served as the Lionesses' skipper from January 2014 until last year, missed most of last season with an Achilles problem. She was facing a race against time to recover and prove her fitness to Wiegman ahead of Euro 2022 and ultimately fell just short, failing to make the squad.

Despite having a good season this year, she hasn't been selected since being part of the preliminary squad for that tournament.

Speaking to BBC 5 Live earlier this month, Houghton opened up about her time away from international duty, saying: “I feel as though when I’ve had this conversation with the manager, it’s always been negative. Over April, March, I was playing, I was playing well, I’d proven myself against the likes of Sam Kerr. I think sometimes, no matter what you do, you’re not going to please someone."

Asked about Houghton's situation the following day, Wiegman said that "the chances are not that high" for her to make the World Cup squad but that she will "never close the door" on her.

"When you are in international football and you are England coach, you want everyone to be available, so [if] things happen for some players that situation changes," she added.

Now that Williamson is ruled out, does that change the situation enough for the former captain to get a recall?

There are also a lot of top quality centre-backs already in the England picture who could take Williamson's place in the starting line-up. One of those is one of her Arsenal team-mates, Lotte Wubben-Moy.

The 24-year-old is playing well in her regular game time with her club and has long been on the fringes of the Lionesses' team under Wiegman. She also has quite a lot of experience compared to the other up-and-coming centre-back options, with Champions League football and a Euro 2022 winners' medal on her CV.

That may count when it comes to throwing someone into such an important role ahead of such a big tournament.

In contrast, Maya Le Tissier has just two caps to date but she has been arguably the most impressive centre-back in the WSL this season.

The 21-year-old has excelled at Manchester United after a summer transfer from Brighton, so much so that she earned her first senior call-ups this campaign.

Wiegman does like to slowly introduce young talent into her squads and onto the big stage, though, so while Le Tissier's chances of going to the World Cup are good, she may not be seen as ready to take Williamson's place in the starting XI.

Another centre-back option that Wiegman looked at very recently is Esme Morgan.

The 22-year-old won her fourth cap when she started against Australia in April, but it was a disappointing day and the Man City defender struggled as the Lionesses lost their first game under the Dutch coach.

Like Le Tissier, Morgan has a chance to be in the World Cup squad but is unlikely to slot into the starting line-up at this stage.

West Ham's Lucy Parker won't assume Williamson's spot in the England XI but she could take her place in the squad.

The versatile defender won her second senior call-up in April, having seen her first cut short by injury last year. She is yet to win her first cap for the Lionesses but is in the picture when it comes to that World Cup squad.