'World-class' Hannah Hampton can ease the Lionesses' concerns as injury keeps Mary Earps out of England's huge trip to France

It's not long since Earps was the only England goalkeeper who was actually getting game time at club level. When Wiegman chose her squad for October, she selected Earps; two shot-stoppers, in Ellie Roebuck and Hampton, who had yet to see a minute of action in the 2023-24 season; and uncapped teenager Khiara Keating, who had usurped Roebuck and Sandy MacIver to become Manchester City's No.1. MacIver, City's second-choice goalkeeper, had previously been an option for the Lionesses, too, but changed her allegiance to Scotland before the October camp after winning one England cap in four years.

“We want players to play because when they play, we can see them and their performances make us pick them," Wiegman said at the time. "[Roebuck and Hampton] have built a little bit of credit with us because they have been with our team for a long period of time and done well in training sessions, shown up all the time. I think they still are among the best goalkeepers in the country and I just hope in the future they do get minutes. That makes it a little bit complicated, but I did pick them because I still think they are the best in the country."

It's a situation that would take time to improve, too. MacIver's switch reduced the player pool, Roebuck continued to struggle for minutes and sadly even suffered a type of stroke during the 2023-24 season, all while Hampton remained patient in waiting for her Chelsea chance. Keating had shown her quality and incredible potential, sure, but she was still so raw and inexperienced.

It made Earps more important than ever, really, because if something was to have happened to her, Wiegman would have to throw in a rusty goalkeeper or a teenage debutante. That would not exactly have been ideal while England were battling top-level opposition for a place in the Nations League finals and at the Olympics. These were high-pressure, high-stakes games.

But things have changed since. In December, Hampton made her Chelsea debut and she has now become the Blues' regular first-choice goalkeeper, even if Zecira Musovic still earned some opportunities in the second half of the season. After her first outing for the club, no one kept more clean sheets in the Women's Super League than Hampton, with Keating the only goalkeeper to boast a higher save percentage in that time (of those to make more than five appearances).

"I say this as the future USA coach: England are so lucky," then-Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said of Hampton in March. "I remember watching her play at Birmingham and I said, 'She is going to be a top, top goalkeeper'. I genuinely believe Hannah has all the ability to become the best in the world."

That form translated into more opportunities with England, too, as Hampton earned a rare start during February's friendly window. "She has done well at Chelsea," Wiegman told ITV ahead of the 23-year-old winning just her third cap. "We know Mary is our No.1 goalkeeper but we need to have an option when something is happening with Mary, [to know] Hannah is ready to go."

Wiegman then went one further in April when she started Hampton against Ireland, in a Euro 2025 qualifier. It was the first time since September 2022, when Roebuck played against Luxembourg, that Earps wasn't England's starting goalkeeper for a competitive match. It was Hampton's first appearance in a game of such meaning since April 2022.

"She's growing into competition with Mary," Wiegman said, which felt notable. Earps has been No.1 for her country since the Dutchwoman took over in September 2021 - but it suddenly feels like there is a real battle for that position now.

There are many benefits of that, and this week will show one, as Hampton prepares to step in for the injured Earps. The Manchester United shot-stopper withdrew from the England squad over the weekend, meaning Hampton will start in France on Tuesday as the Lionesses look to get back to winning ways.

Had she been coming into that match without many games for her country under her belt in recent times, it could've been a concern. Would she feel more pressure? Would she be able to cope with the experience? Especially given England's need for a positive result and their poor record in France, where there is sure to be a hostile atmosphere waiting for them.

But that there is little concern about the pending change is a huge nod to Hampton's progress and how she has taken her opportunities. After all, Earps has been integral to England's recent successes, starring in the Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 Women's World Cup final, and she remains Wiegman's go-to because of how reliable she has been for her.

It was all summed up well by Georgia Stanway in the mixed zone after Friday's defeat to France. England might've lost the game 2-1 but, after she replaced Earps with eight minutes played, there was little to criticise about Hampton's performance. “They're both great goalkeepers," Stanway said. "You can play either one of them and you know exactly what you're going to get, and I think that's what's special. Either one, you feel safe with them behind you and for an outfield player that's exactly what you want.

"You can see the way that Hannah distributes the ball is world-class. The passes that she was making into full-back areas were unbelievable. I know she's had her head down and she's been working really hard at Chelsea and she's got her place at Chelsea, she's been playing games. She deserved it tonight. Obviously, we hope that Mary is okay and she recovers well, but like I said, you could play either one of them and you know exactly what you're going to get, because they’re both world-class.”

Hampton has proved that in her three appearances for England so far in 2024 and she'll be out to keep that up on Tuesday, in the hope that it can help the Lionesses secure a well-needed positive result, if not an historic win.