KATHRYN BATTE: Leaving Man City for Barcelona would be the perfect move for Ellie Roebuck to get her career back on track...she can still be one of the best as she seeks to push Mary Earps for England place at Euro 2025
- Ellie Roebuck's international hopes could receive a boost if she plays at Barca
- If she had not had a back injury, could she have been in Mary Earps' place?
- Kevin De Bruyne is brilliant, but he's not the best. Chris Sutton names his top five Premier League midfielders on It's All Kicking Off
Can goalkeepers burst onto the scene? Roy Keane would most likely pull a face at the suggestion. It is something we associate with strikers and midfielders. But in the last six years, two young Manchester City goalkeepers have done just that.
In 2018, an 18-year-old Ellie Roebuck made her senior debut after an injury to Karen Bardsley. She kept a clean sheet against Chelsea, helping City finish the season unbeaten as they lifted the Women’s Super League title.
Nobody expected Roebuck to oust Bardsley, England’s No 1 at the time, so quickly. But in the next two years she overtook her at both club and international level. Roebuck was the No 1 for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was on course to be England’s first-choice goalkeeper for the Euros the following year.
But a complicated back injury sidelined her for five months, just as Sarina Wiegman was taking up her role as England manager.
With Roebuck injured, Wiegman brought Mary Earps out of the wilderness and made her No 1. Roebuck got back to full fitness but Earps’ performances ensured she kept her place for the Euros.
![Ellie Roebuck has lost her England place to Mary Earps but can still become one of the world's best and regain her spot](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/08/80071767-0-image-a-1_1705393522712.jpg)
Ellie Roebuck has lost her England place to Mary Earps but can still become one of the world's best and regain her spot
![Reports suggest that a move to Barcelona is on he cards, most likely in the summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80071765-12968121-Reports_suggest_that_a_move_to_Barcelona_is_on_he_cards_most_lik-a-10_1705412497114.jpg)
Reports suggest that a move to Barcelona is on he cards, most likely in the summer
Since then, Earps has become European champion and won the golden glove at a World Cup, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and two FIFA Best awards — the second coming on Monday night.
It would only be natural for Roebuck to wonder if she had not got that injury, whether all that would have been her. She was part of the England squad that won the Euros and reached the World Cup final but did not play in either tournament.
Wiegman’s reluctance to rotate, even in friendlies, has made things more difficult. Roebuck has had the odd appearance but it is not easy for goalkeepers to come in after such a long period of not playing. She made an error for a goal in a friendly against Norway in 2022 which seemed to hint at a lack of confidence.
It has not got much easier since. After last summer’s World Cup, Roebuck returned to City to find she had lost her place to Khiara Keating. The 19-year-old made her debut at 17 while Roebuck was injured and her performances this season have also seen her replace Roebuck in the England squad. Sound familiar?
Leaving Roebuck out of last month’s England camp will not have been an easy decision for Wiegman. It was a slight surprise that she left out Roebuck over Keating, who is uncapped, and Hannah Hampton, who has played just twice for England.
Roebuck only has 11 caps but it was a surprise her tournament experience did not count for more. That said, Wiegman is consistent in that she will not pick players who are not playing for their clubs.
It has been clear for the last few months that Roebuck needs to leave City to get her career back on track and if she were to join Barcelona, as reports suggest she might, they could offer the perfect solution. A deal is thought to be more likely in the summer, when Barca’s No 1 Sandra Panos is expected to leave, but a January move has not been ruled out.
There is no guarantee Roebuck would be first choice at Barca either, with Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll there. But the chance of development Barca will offer makes the move a no-brainer.
![Earps is a European champion, World Cup finalist, and has won a host of individual awards, but Roebuck will hope to challenge her for Euro 2025](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80071847-12968121-Earps_is_a_European_champion_World_Cup_finalist_and_has_won_a_ho-a-11_1705412497115.jpg)
Earps is a European champion, World Cup finalist, and has won a host of individual awards, but Roebuck will hope to challenge her for Euro 2025
![Roebuck was left out of last month's England camp but has 11 caps to her name and it would be crazy for anyone to write her off](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80071755-12968121-Roebuck_was_left_out_of_last_month_s_England_camp_but_has_11_cap-a-12_1705412497115.jpg)
Roebuck was left out of last month's England camp but has 11 caps to her name and it would be crazy for anyone to write her off
Roebuck is only 24 and has a long career ahead of her. It would be crazy for anyone to write her off. That is what happened to Earps once and now she is one of the most well-known faces in football.
Roebuck does not have the same reputation for having a big personality like Earps but that is most likely because she has not had the same media attention. Whenever she has been put up for interviews during England camps, she has come across as down to earth and happy to talk.
Roebuck has the advantage of being comfortable with the ball at her feet, making her a perfect fit for a club like Barca. This move could be the making of her.
A summer without an international tournament will do Roebuck no harm. Her aim has to be to push Earps for that England spot ahead of Euro 2025.
That young goalkeeper who burst onto the scene nearly six years ago still has the potential to be one of the world’s best.
CONCACAF Gold Cup to have big impact on WSL teams
The impact the CONCACAF Gold Cup could have on WSL teams next month has perhaps gone under the radar.
The tournament will be held in the United States from February 20 until March 10 and will feature a range of players from the English League. Chelsea look set to lose Canadians Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence as well as US striker Mia Fishel. With Sam Kerr already injured for the season, Fishel’s departure is far from ideal.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have just signed US full back Emily Fox after allowing Noelle Maritz to join Aston Villa. But Fox will be absent for the duration of the tournament, given the US are expected to progress to the later stages.
![Chelsea will miss multiple players during the CONCACAF Gold Cup and with Sam kerr out injured, Mia Fishel's absence is far from ideal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80073457-12968121-Chelsea_will_miss_multiple_players_during_the_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup_-a-13_1705412497116.jpg)
Chelsea will miss multiple players during the CONCACAF Gold Cup and with Sam kerr out injured, Mia Fishel's absence is far from ideal
![Jayde Riviere will be a miss in full-back for Manchester United as they are light in that position](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80073477-12968121-Jayde_Riviere_will_be_a_miss_in_full_back_for_Manchester_United_-a-14_1705412497117.jpg)
Jayde Riviere will be a miss in full-back for Manchester United as they are light in that position
![Manchester City may benefit the most. Khadija Shaw will be staying put after Jamaica failed to qualify following player protests](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80073547-12968121-Manchester_City_may_benefit_the_most_Khadija_Shaw_will_be_stayin-a-15_1705412497118.jpg)
Manchester City may benefit the most. Khadija Shaw will be staying put after Jamaica failed to qualify following player protests
Arsenal are understood to be close to signing Sarah Bouhaddi as goalkeeper cover due to Sabrina D’Angelo’s expected involvement with Canada. West Ham will also lose new signings Kristie Mewis and Shelina Zadorsky.
Manchester United will be without Canadian Jayde Riviere and Brazilian forward Geyse. Riviere will be a big miss, given United’s lack of depth at full back while Geyse will leave them light in attack.
The club who may benefit the most is Manchester City. They would have been set to lose top goal scorer Bunny Shaw but Jamaica failed to qualify after players refused to play in qualifiers last year in protest at their federation’s treatment of the women’s set up.
City play Chelsea on February 16th while Arsenal host United a day later. The international break in late February will lessen the blow for clubs heavily affected but players involved in the tournament could miss two WSL games and the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Newcastle on the rise
It was fantastic to see as many as 1,000 Newcastle fans make the trip to Leigh Sports Village to watch their team take on Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday. The Magpies are unbeaten in the league this season and on course for back-to-back promotions.
![As many as 1,000 Newcastle fans watched their team take on Man United at Leigh Sports Village](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/16/13/80073569-12968121-As_many_as_1_000_Newcastle_fans_watched_their_team_take_on_Man_U-a-16_1705412497119.jpg)
As many as 1,000 Newcastle fans watched their team take on Man United at Leigh Sports Village
Playing against WSL opposition proved a step too far, with Marc Skinner’s full strength side winning 5-0, but Becky Langley’s team were competitive for the majority of the game. Newcastle are putting some top flight clubs to shame when it comes to getting fans to matches.
Perhaps it will not be too long before we see them playing the Red Devils on a regular basis.
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