ENGLAND head coach Sarina Wiegman paid tribute today to Ellen White and Jill Scott,  who announced her retirement on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Wiegman said: “It is hard to describe in words how much impact they have (on the game for women in England).

“First of all, they have been with the team for such a long time. They have been impacting the game with their club team, with the national team in England so much and their personalities too.

“I have of course only worked with them for a year, so am a little bit disappointed I cannot work longer with them, but I totally understand their decision and respect that.

“It (their impact) is also further than England, it is just incredible. We are so proud of them and thankful for what they have brought to the game.

“I just hope they stick with the game, if it is not as a player, then with some other role.”

Scott’s decision to hang up her boots came just days after her England teammate Ellen White’s retirement and three weeks after helping the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory.

The 35-year-old said in the Players’ Tribune: “I may be saying my goodbyes to football, but we’re going to make this a celebration. No sad faces!! We’ve had too much fun for any tears.

“Maybe it’s because I’m from Sunderland, but two things have always been true about me: I’ve always been stubborn and I’ve always loved football.

“It’s been in my blood ever since I was five years old. I saw a load of boys playing in the school yard and I walked straight up to them and said the four magic words…’Can I play too?’.

“Imagine, if you would have told me then that I’d go on to play for England for 16 years?

“If you would have told me that I’d live to see 90,000 people packed into Wembley Stadium for a women’s European final? And that I’d be playing in it? Impossible.”

Scott began her career with hometown Sunderland before spending seven years at Everton and then joining City in 2013. She later had loan spells back at Everton and Aston Villa. She won every domestic honour during her time in the game, including the Women’s Super League title with City in 2017.

Other career highlights include scoring England’s winner against Holland in the Euro 2009 semi-finals and also netting in City’s 2017 Women’s FA Cup final victory over Birmingham. She also represented Great Britain at the 2012 and delayed 2020 Olympics.

She made four substitute appearances in England’s triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, including the final against Germany.

Meanwhile, Wiegman announced today that Chloe Kelly and Fran Kirby will not be making the first team due to injuries.

Winger Kelly, scorer of the extra-time winner against Germany that clinched Euros glory for the Lionesses at Wembley on July 31, sustained a problem during Manchester City’s Champions League qualifying loss to Real Madrid on Sunday, while Chelsea’s Kirby has been nursing a foot issue.

But Wiegman, whose side have a double-header of World Cup qualifiers against Austria away on September 3 and Luxembourg in Stoke three days later, said the pair were OK.

“Chloe, it’s just a small thing but it’s too early to bring her in and let her play. Against Real Madrid she had to go out, I think something with her leg. It’s not too bad. I think it won’t take too long.

“Fran has a foot injury, it takes a little more time. I think she’ll be all right, but she hasn’t had that much training at all, so she just needs a little more time, this camp just comes too early.”

Hannah Hampton is also absent from the squad, with Wiegman saying of the Aston Villa goalkeeper: “She has some personal issues that she has to solve, so for her at this moment it’s better to stay at her club.”