Keira Walsh trains with England ahead of Women’s World Cup knockout game against Nigeria

SYDNEY (AP) – Keira Walsh gave England a potential boost ahead of its Women’s World Cup round of 16 clash with Nigeria when the midfielder was able to practice with the team Sunday, one day before the elimination match.

Walsh sustained a knee injury in England´s 1-0 win against Denmark in the Lionesses´ second game of the group stage. Scans showed she didn’t damage her ACL, but it wasn’t clear if Walsh would be able to play again this tournament.

Walsh, who plays for Barcelona, participated in individual training to regain her fitness and finally rejoined her teammates in Sunday’s practice. England plays Nigeria on Monday in Brisbane, Australia, in a knockout game.

England head coach Sarina Wiegman confirmed Walsh had returned to the squad and “she´s doing well.”

“We´ll wait to see how she recovers from the training session and if she does well, she´s available for tomorrow,” Wiegman told a news conference in Brisbane on Sunday, declining to elaborate further on the extent of Walsh´s injury. “I can only say there wasn´t a ligament injury. That´s all I can say right now.”

Wiegman agreed it appeared to be a possibly tournament-ending when Walsh left the field against Denmark and “everyone was in shock,” but she added: “After the assessment, we said `just don´t make any assumptions.´ Then we got the green light” for the midfielder to start rehabilitation.

England’s Keira Walsh center sits on the pitch after an injury during the Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match between England and Denmark at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Walsh joined Barcelona from Manchester City last year for a reported fee of 400,000 pounds ($513,000), a record for women’s soccer.

Despite concerns England wouldn’t be able to replace Walsh, the Lionesses produced their best performance of the tournament in their final group game by beating China 6-1.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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More AP Women´s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup

Medical staff stretcher England’s Keira Walsh off the pitch after she was injured during the Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match between England and Denmark at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Medical staff stretcher England’s Keira Walsh off the pitch after she was injured during the Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match between England and Denmark at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England’s Keira Walsh holds her knee before being carried off the field during the Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Sophie Ralph)