England's Lionesses have yet another injury concern on their hands when it comes to their October fixtures after Jess Park was ruled out of Manchester United's final game before the international break. The winger has been in fine form since joining from Manchester City on deadline day but is now a doubt for her country's first game since Sarina Wiegman guided them to another European Championship triumph.
Why Park missed Man Utd's clash with Atletico Madrid
Park was expected to play an important role in United's second fixture of their first Women's Champions League campaign in the main portion of the competition, one which took them to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid on Thursday night. However, the 23-year-old was a surprise absentee from not only the Red Devils' XI but the entire squad, suffering from what the club later confirmed as concussion. She was not the only player missing either, with a back issue for Celin Bizet further reducing the attacking options for Marc Skinner, who guided United to a first win in this stage of the UWCL last week with a 1-0 victory over Valerenga.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhen could Park be back for Man Utd and England?
It's unclear at this point how or when Park, who scored twice against Everton last weekend, picked up the issue and, as such, how long she could be sidelined. Players are required to go through a concussion protocol that often keeps them out of competitive action for a week, but it can be longer depending on the severity of the injury, the symptoms being suffered and how each individual responds to assessment. United do not have a fixture this coming weekend, meaning the next game on Park's individual schedule will be with England, when they face Brazil at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on October 25.
England's depleted attack: Park adds to Lionesses' concerns around forwards
It would be a real blow for the Lionesses if Park was to miss out, too, as she had emerged as an obvious solution to some of the injury woes England are already facing for this camp. Both Lauren James and Lauren Hemp are unavailable this month, James due to an ankle problem she sustained during Euro 2025 and Hemp with an issue in the same area that was picked up in action for Manchester City last month, meaning Wiegman is a little light on wingers. Park, though, has been playing out wide since her move to United at the end of the summer transfer window and she has been playing very well there, standing out as one of the Red Devils' top performers through the first few weeks of the season.
That's not to say the Lionesses don't have other options. Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly are both in the England squad, as is the versatile Aggie Beever-Jones. However, the former pair have struggled for regular minutes at Arsenal so far this campaign while the latter has been predominantly playing as a central striker for Chelsea.
Getty ImagesOther injury worries: Wiegman dealing with plenty of absentees
Wiegman is without other players this month, too. England captain Leah Williamson is still recovering from an injury she picked up at Euro 2025, with Arsenal hoping to have her back before Christmas, while Millie Bright has just lightened the options at centre-back a little more by announcing her international retirement. Fortunately, it is one of the most well-stocked areas in the Lionesses' squad, even with Millie Turner also sidelined and Wiegman, somewhat controversially, seeing Maya Le Tissier as an option at right-back rather than in the central role she excels in for Man Utd.
There is every chance Park is able to make a full recovery in time for the game against Brazil, however, granted there are no setbacks in the concussion assessment. That's what England and Wiegman will hope, anyway, as they prepare to test their mettle against the South American champions. If not, or if Park is back but not fit enough to start, there is at least a second game just three days later that she could be involved in, when the Lionesses welcome Australia to Derby County's Pride Park on October 28.