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The Lionesses will be looking to win the Women’s World Cup next year – but to accomplish that goal they may need to find a solution to their “full-back problem”.
At right-back, Lucy Bronze, 34, has been England’s undisputed starter for the best part of a decade – but how long can she keep playing? And is there anyone following in her footsteps?
There is even more ambiguity at left-back – with several centre-backs having filled the position in recent years, while striker Rachel Daly started every game there when England won the first of their back-to-back European titles in 2022.
The full-back issue has not gone unnoticed at the Football Association – interim England Under-23s boss Lauren Smith admits they have been plotting a succession plan for more than 18 months.
“You’ve probably been thinking ‘hey, what’s this full-back problem?’ And that’s the same as we have been thinking a little bit over time,” said Smith.
“It’s not something that is new to us. When I stepped into [my under-19s head coach] role, the conversation was happening about how we could maybe think differently or look differently for players in the pathway.
- 2 July 2025
Who are the current options?
In England’s four friendly matches to end 2025, manager Sarina Wiegman started three different players at left-back, and Bronze and Maya Le Tissier at right-back.
The Dutchwoman has made it clear she believes Le Tissier is the current back-up option for Bronze despite captaining Manchester United at centre-back.
Versatile Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan, who impressed at centre-back during Euro 2025, is also capable of playing on the right.
Speaking about her role in October, Morgan said: “I can fill in in different positions and I think that’s something that over my career has allowed me to get a lot more minutes than I might now have otherwise done if I was just rigid in one position.
“When I was at Manchester City, I played the vast majority of my minutes at full-back and that was really valuable in terms of being exposed [to playing] against world-class wingers. It’s all part of your development.
“Versatility is a huge strength but I think my best attributes probably serve me to be most useful at centre-back.”
In Le Tissier, Morgan and Gotham FC defender Jess Carter, Wiegman has players who can switch positions across the back four, despite centre-back being their preferred role.
The same can be said for Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood, who has been one of England’s most consistent performers under Wiegman.
She was overlooked at centre-back in Euro 2022 with Wiegman selecting Millie Bright and Leah Williamson, and started five of the six matches at Euro 2025 at left-back after the failed trial of playing play Carter there in the defeat by France.
Greenwood, 32, has been a solid solution but England have been exposed by pace more recently, so Wiegman needed to expand the search.
She called up Bay FC defender Anouk Denton in October, who is primarily a right-back but can play left-back, and persuaded Arsenal’s Taylor Hinds to switch allegiances from Jamaica to England at the end of last year.
Hinds started victories against Australia and Ghana at left-back in October and December respectively, while Chelsea’s Niamh Charles has struggled with injuries but has also played in the position.
The most recent option is London City Lionesses left-back Poppy Pattinson, who has been called up for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland in March.
“[Pattinson] plays at left-back, is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative. She likes to go forward and she can cover the whole wing on the left side,” said Wiegman.
“She is looking for passes forward which I thought was really good. Although she is not the tallest, she does use her body well in defence.
‘We’ve not been blessed with left-footers’
Getty ImagesManchester City winger Lauren Hemp has been a mainstay in the starting XI and told the Women’s Football Weekly podcast “it’s really important to have a good connection” with the left-back.
Ex-England striker Ellen White added: “It’s preferred to have a left-footer on that side. For a number of tournaments now we’ve had Greenwood there, who I see as a centre-back, and Rachel Daly – a striker – who filled in.
“Niamh Charles is a right-footed player and has been there. If you go right back to the archives we had Demi Stokes, Claire Rafferty and Rachel Unit who were left-sided players. But we’ve not been blessed with many left-footed full-backs for a while.
“It would be great to see Poppy Pattinson in that position and see how she fares. Greenwood has done wonders for us, but she’s very good at centre-back.”
Pattinson, 25, is the most recent player to come through England’s youth teams and join the senior squad, although it has come later in her career.
She understands there is an opportunity to stake her claim in the side and wants to show what she can do over the next few weeks.
“I want to express myself and bring my strengths into the team. Hopefully I can do that. I’ve had some good performances with my club,” said Pattinson.
“I describe myself as having a tenacious attitude. I like to defend and not let anyone past me but also I like to get forward, create opportunities and get the ball into the box. Hopefully I can do that here.”
Former Scotland international Jen Beattie says England’s left-back position is the one area in the squad you cannot predict.
“Because there’s not been an out-and-out left-back, it’s an opportunity for someone. Every single other position you can pretty much say ‘that’s their first choice’,” she added.
Who could be part of England’s future?
Getty ImagesFormer England Under-23s boss Emma Coates, who left to join Bay FC in December, has overseen the development of several young full-backs.
As well as Pattinson and Denton, there have been call-ups for Tottenham’s Ella Morris and Manchester City’s Naomi Layzell before they sustained lengthy injuries.
Morris is still returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has ruled her out for nine months, while Layzell has had multiple setbacks since impressing in a 2-0 win over Barcelona in October 2024.
“I think in the game we’re always trying to look for the next Lucy Bronze rather than what characteristics do we want from a high-level full-back,” said Coates in October.
“We saw Ella Morris have a significant injury but she had a call-up and was really close. There’s other players in the under-23s that we think have the potential to make that step.
“Our job is to identify those players, work with them and then it’s up to Sarina Wiegman to make the decision on when they are ready.”
Only time will tell if the FA’s work has paid off for the 2027 World Cup, but Smith believes there is enough depth coming through England’s youth teams.
She highlighted Manchester United’s Jess Simpson, who is currently on loan at Southampton, Chelsea’s Chloe Sarwie and Aston Villa’s Rachel Maltby.
“The game is getting faster and faster. It’s really important to make sure that whoever is ready for Sarina is matching the physical capabilities of the senior squad,” said Smith on Friday.
“It’s not necessarily that we look for that first. The player has to be an all-rounder but equally we’re not putting square pegs in round holes.
“Lola Brown is a left-footer for the under-19s but she’s an incredible midfielder that can go and attack. She’s not a left-back, so we won’t create her into one.
Related topics
- England Women’s Football Team
- Football
- Women’s Football
