Beth Mead stayed down after a late challenge in England’s 7-0 victory over Jamaica but was able to continue and scored the Lionesses’ final goal before revealing: “I am okay”
England star Beth Mead allayed injury fears after suffering a scare as the Lionesses signed off ahead of this summer’s Euros with a thumping win against Jamaica.
Mead stayed down after a late challenge in Sunday’s 7-0 victory at the King Power Stadium but was able to continue and scored the Lionesses’ final goal of the afternoon.
Mead’s reaction might have left some fans worried after she missed 11 months with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in late 2022, but she assured them she’s good to go.
“I am okay, yeah,” Mead said. “I think sometimes when you’re getting hit in the knee after an injury like an ACL it’s a little bit of a panic, but after the impact I felt okay.”
“I think we did well to score seven. We could have scored more but the post and crossbar wasn’t having it.
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England cruised to victory over Jamaica, with six difference scorers in the victory. Ella Toone scored twice in the first half, with Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Alessia Russo and Aggie-Beever Jones all on target before Mead’s own late contribution.
It was an ideal send-off, but Arsenal star Mead recognised the Euros opener against France will be a “very different” kind of test.
England take on France on July 5, followed by further group games against the Netherlands and Wales, and Mead recognises manager Sarina Wiegman will need to make use of her whole squad after two substitutes combined for Beever-Jones’ goal.
“100 percent. You look at the last Euros, some of our bench players made big differences and we need the whole squad throughout tournaments,” Mead said.
““It’s not the starting 11, it’s the whole squad day in, day out. The four [standby] girls that are leaving us today, they’ve been incredible… It’s a squad effort and that’s what we need to understand.”
Chelsea star Lauren James made her own return from injury, playing half an hour and setting up Russo’s goal, and Mead spoke highly of her team-mate after the cameo.
“LJ is a world-class player and when you get her in the right positions she’s going to do exactly that,” she said.
“It’s nice to play alongside her, I think we all have a good understanding of what she brings and how we can bring the best out of her, and hopefully we can do that this summer.”
James is one of a wealth of attacking talents who can contribute for Wiegman, and the manager highlighted her options as she faces the good kind of selection dilemma.
“We have many players that can play in the 10,” Wiegman said. “Jess Park, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Lauren James. She can play up front but can also play in the 10 like we saw today.”
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