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• Mead needs 'a miracle' as England boss Wiegman plans for Women's World Cup without Arsenal forward

  Beth Mead will miss the Women's World Cup unless "a miracle happens", according to England head coach Sarina Wiegman.

  The Arsenal forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in November and has not played since.

  Such injuries are long-term setbacks, and it was the cruellest of blows for Mead, coming so soon after she played a starring role in England's Euro 2022 triumph.

  Mead won the Player of the Tournament award and the Golden Boot as hosts England swept to glory, edging out Germany 2-1 in the Wembley Stadium final on July 31.

  The 27-year-old former Sunderland striker would have been central to England's plans for this year's global tournament, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in July and August.

  Wiegman believes there is next to no chance of Mead being fit to feature for the Lionesses, however.

  Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Wiegman said of Mead: "I had a conversation with her. She's doing well. She's in rehab and she's doing good.

  "But the World Cup is actually too early, so what we said now is she's not in our plans now.

  "[She should] just really take the time to get back well, but if a miracle happens and she goes so fast we will reconsider it, but at this moment I don't expect that."

  England have home friendlies against Australia and Brazil in April as they build towards the focal point of the year.

  There are also worries over Chelsea forward Fran Kirby, who is sidelined with a knee injury of her own, albeit not one as serious as the one Mead sustained.

  "Of course I'm concerned because she's been out for a while now," Wiegman said. "But I want to keep this opportunity open, and she'll be treated as we treat anyone else.

  "Hopefully she gets fit, gets on the pitch, gets playing, and then you need to show performance and fitness. It's a little concern, but also don't think too much forward, just see how she progresses."

• Spurs players support Conte sacking but Kulusevski 'sad' to see him go

  Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski was "sad" to see Antonio Conte fired by the club but claimed Spurs players support the decision to remove him from his post.

  Conte and Spurs parted company on Sunday after a week of intense speculation suggesting he had already taken charge of his final game.

  The Italian made headlines last Saturday when he went on a remarkable rant in his post-match press conference after Spurs threw away a two-goal lead at Southampton to draw 3-3.

  He called his players "selfish" and extraordinarily suggested the club's lack of tangible success in recent years was ingrained, saying: "Tottenham's story is this – 20 years and they never won something. Why?"

  Conte was reportedly asked by club chiefs to clarify those comments and he was said to have insisted they were aimed at the players rather than hierarchy, though seemingly that was not enough to save his job.

  Since Conte's exit was confirmed, media reports have brought to light apparent frustrations with Conte from the squad, though Kulusevski – who was signed during the former Inter boss' tenure – appeared disappointed.

  He told Fotballskanalen: "It's always sad when a person you work with and have grown close to has to leave.

  "But life goes on and you just have to move on. We have ten games left now and we have to do our best to reach the top four."

  Kulusevski added: "He has been very important [to me]. I have learned a lot from him and I will always remember him, but now we have his assistant [Cristian Stellini], who I know very well.

  "Then we'll see who comes in next season, but I enjoy the city and the club very much."

  Nevertheless, Sweden international Kulusevski clarified that, while he seemed somewhat disheartened by the change, collectively the Spurs squad does not have an issue with the action taken by decision makers.

  "It's not me who decides. Whoever is the coach, we players will always accept and play for him and for everyone else," he said.

  "Now the club made this decision because they think it is the best, and we players stand behind that."

  Spurs are back in Premier League action on Monday when they go to Everton – at that point, Newcastle United, who have two games in hand, could have replaced them in fourth.

• Keithroy Freeman's brace spurs St Kitts and Nevis to 2-0 win over Aruba at Warner Park

  St Kitts and Nevis blanked visiting Aruba 2-0 to extend their lead in Group B of the Concacaf Nations Cup C League at Warner Park on Monday night.

  Keithroy Freeman scored in each half for the home side that had Lois Maynard sent off late in the hard-fought encounter.

  The win means St Kitts and Nevis’ Sugar Boyz sit atop the group with 10 points from four matches, six points clear of Aruba and St Martin who have four and two points, respectively.

  The first real chance of the match came in the 21st minute for the hosts when Omari Sterling-James’ left-footed effort hit the post. His effort was one of 12 shots in the opening period but Aruba.

  The Sugar Boyz were eventually rewarded in first-half stoppage time when Keithroy Freeman chipped Aruba goalkeeper and captain Eric Abdul in the 46th minute after chasing down a ball over the top.

  Abdul was in fantastic form all night, his finest moment coming in the 74th minute when he parried a thunderbolt from Freeman over the bar.

  And though his heroics kept Aruba in the game, his team was forced to open up as they chased an equalizer. This opened them up to a counterattack in the 80th minute that led to Freeman’s second goal.

  The Sugar Boyz will return to League B for the next Nations League Cycle and will now play in the Gold Cup preliminary round as they try to qualify for their first ever appearance in the main draw of the competition.