Hannah Hampton or Mary Earps: The England selection dilemma facing Sarina Wiegman

For a long time, Mary Earps has been England's undisputed number one, and rightfully so.

The shirt was firmly up for grabs prior to Euro 2022 in what could be described as a 'changing of the guard' in the Lionesses squad. Karen Bardsley and Carly Telford were Phil Neville's goalkeepers of choice prior to his departure in 2021, but a new era under Sarina Wiegman presented fresh opportunities for those previously overlooked.

Earps, Ellie Roebuck and - to a lesser extent - Hannah Hampton were the three ready to battle for the starting position. It was a race that was undoubtedly won by Earps as she started all six of the Lionesses' games at the tournament two years ago and kept four clean sheets.

Her involvement in England's historic Euro win that summer earned her The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award in 2022. Earps won the trust of not only her manager but an entire nation as she quickly became a fan favourite in the Lionesses squad, and it was difficult to see anyone displacing her for some time.

Fast forward two years, England had arguably become overly reliant on Earps. The prospect of losing the shot-stopper to injury or suspension brought about a sense of unease, with a lingering doubt over whether those next in line were ready to grasp the shirt in the same way Earps did a couple of years prior.

This summer, that narrative has seen a seismic shift. The competition for places in England's goalkeeping ranks has intensified to such an extent that Earps' status as number one is no longer untouchable.

Hampton had been dropped by England after the Euros win in 2022 as Wiegman cited 'personal reasons' for her temporary exile, but the door had been left ajar. By the World Cup last summer, the former Aston Villa goalkeeper had worked her way back into the squad, but she was by no means ready to challenge Earps.

After completing a move to Chelsea 12 months ago, Hampton's stock has drastically risen. She was trusted by Emma Hayes in some of their biggest games last season, most notably a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. She has also stepped up for England in some crucial matches, including the double header against France a little over a month ago.

Ahead of last Friday's clash against the Republic of Ireland, one of the biggest questions facing Wiegman prior to kick off was the goalkeeper selection. Earps was back after a brief spell on the sidelines with a hip injury, but Hampton had proved she was worthy of consideration.

As it turned out, Hampton got the nod at Carrow Road last week and she justified her selection with a solid performance between the sticks. It's clear to see why she has emerged as Earps' closest contender for the number one spot.

But beyond those two, the depth England possess is remarkable. Last season saw the rapid rise of Manchester City's Khiara Keating, who recently celebrated her 20th birthday.

The youngster was plunged into the spotlight under Gareth Taylor last term as she became City's first choice goalkeeper at just 19 years of age. She exhibited maturity and composure beyond her years, rightfully earning her a first senior England call-up in November last year.

Roebuck, the player Keating ousted for the number one shirt at City, will also be intent on having something to say about the ongoing battle for places. The 24-year-old, who has 11 caps for England and four for Great Britain, revealed in March she had suffered a left occipital infarct, a type of ischaemic stroke.

The goalkeeper is working her way back to full fitness and completed a move to Barcelona earlier this summer following the expiry of her contract at the Joie Stadium. The switch to Liga F presents a perfect opportunity to reignite her career as she'll share game time with Spain's Cata Coll.

All eyes will be on Tuesday night's teamsheet and whether Earps reclaims her spot for the crunch clash against Sweden. England must avoid defeat in Gothenburg to put their qualification for next summer's Euros beyond doubt.

While Earps remains the obvious choice for a game with so much at stake, it's becoming less clear whether she'll be first choice in 12 months should the Lionesses qualify for the tournament in Switzerland.

It's through no fault of her own, of course, as Earps has undoubtedly been one of the most reliable figures in the team under Wiegman in recent years, and all the plaudits and individual awards are richly deserved.

It's instead a testament to the growing quality of goalkeepers within the England ranks that it's even a question whether Earps, who is now the highest paid shot-stopper in the world following her recent move to Paris Saint-Germain, will be a guaranteed starter at the next major tournament.

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