Notts County back-up keeper, Lizzie Durack confirms she’ll be unable to play for the Lady Pies this season.
County left short
Durack, who signed on deadline day, took to Twitter today to confirm that due to the rules and regulations she’s bound by as a student at Harvard University she’s unable to feature for Notts this season.
Australian-born Durack has been a regular feature in England youth teams for the past few years after she was deemed not good enough by a coach for the Australian U17s. Her exploits between the sticks for England – for whom she qualifies through an English mother – have seen her progress through the U19s, U20 and recently U23s with her performances warranting caps and cameos under Mark Sampson in the senior squad.
In the wake of Carly Telford’s ankle injury sustained in a match against Doncaster late last month, Rick Passmoor drafted Durack into the squad to provide cover and compete for starts with winter signing, Megan Walsh.
Despite having been listed in contention to feature against Yeovil in a Continental Tyres Cup round of 16 tie, Durack only made the bench. In County’s last two league games since, Walsh has retained her starting spot whilst Durack hasn’t even been listed on the bench.
In her statement the England international expressed her desire to feature in the WSL once more – having already spent time with Everton as back up for former England no.1, Rachel Brown-Finnis. Whether Durack joins back up with Notts when she’s available remains to be seen.
Pressure on Walsh
Having to rely on their back-up goalkeeper is nothing new for the historic club, whether at the start of the year when Walsh filled in for Telford after the former Chelsea keeper injured herself on international duty. Or last season when Telford injured herself whilst away with England at the 2015 World Cup and Notts had to sign (then) Arsenal back-up keeper, and Telford’s international teammate, Siobhan Chamberlain.
Following a poor performance that culminated in a 5-1 home defeat at the hands of league leaders, Manchester City, yesterday the pressure will be on Walsh – as well as the rest of the Notts squad – to step up and perform. With County next in action at the end of the week away to Reading, Walsh will be targeting a clean sheet against the WSL 1 newcomers who’ve only manged to score seven league goals in eight matches – two of which came in the reverse fixture at the start of the season.