Manchester City captain Steph Houghton is set for another spell out of action following surgery on an Achilles injury that ruled her out of the recent Arnold Clark Cup.

Houghton only returned from a four-month injury layoff in January and hasn’t played international football since representing Great Britain at the Olympics last summer.

City have not confirmed a set timeframe for the 33-year-old’s latest recovery period, but it has the potential to put her Euro 2022 place with England in jeopardy if she struggles to make it back to full fitness before the end of the WSL season.

Houghton is yet to play for new England manager Sarina Wiegman, having been forced to withdraw from the England squad in September after sustaining an injury in a training session. She then wasn’t available in for subsequent international breaks in October and November.

It was hoped that the former Leeds and Arsenal star would be back for the Arnold Clark Cup, which saw England emerge victorious after going unbeaten against three of the best countries in the world. But a recent injury setback saw her miss out on selection again.

Houghton, who has otherwise been an automatic starter for England for well over a decade and was appointed captain in 2015, will turn 34 in April.

Leah Williamson has usually worn the armband for the Lionesses so far under Wiegman and would be the favourite to be named captain for Euro 2022 if Houghton doesn’t make the cut.

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