Keira Walsh went off injured during the first-half against Denmark on Friday (Picture: BBC)

Keira Walsh was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in tears with a knee problem in a major injury blow for England at the Women’s World Cup.

The incident occurred in the first half of the Lionesses’ second match of the tournament against Denmark.

England went into the World Cup without several key stars due to injuries and losing Walsh is a fresh blow for Sarina Wiegman’s team.

‘I think it’s gutting,’ former England defender Gilly Flaherty said on commentary duties for the BBC. ‘I am looking now at the pictures of Keira Walsh. She looks upset.

‘It’s not good to see and it’s just fingers crossed that it isn’t what we think it is [an ACL injury]. You feel sick at the thought it could potentially be another ACL.’

Another ex-England star, Karen Bardsley, added: ‘I was just about to say what a game she is having in terms of being able to create space for herself.

‘She is phenomenal at doing that and when she went to Barcelona I think that added a new level to her game.

‘It is big shoes to fill and England have played games without her in the past.

‘Laura Coombs is in there now and she’s a very ‘simple principles’ player. She gets the ball, and she passes it and keeps it. We will be fine.

‘The girls will be very concerned. They know they have a job to do and they will do it for Keira Walsh.’

Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said: ‘Keira Walsh looks like she has said ‘I’ve done my knee’ – an ongoing, ever-present unfortunate discussion that we are having in women’s football.

‘Her studs get caught in the ground, not a lot of contact, and we all know what that means. We’re just hoping that the outcome is different for Keira Walsh.

‘Those down moments that make you sick to the pit of your stomach are hard to ignore, but England need to keep their minds on the task in hand.’

More to follow…

Horrific news for the Lionesses…