Lotte Wubben-Moy training with England – the Lionesses are set to kick off their campaign against Haiti on Saturday [Catherine Etoe]

ENGLAND kick off their World Cup campaign in Brisbane on Saturday without injured Arsenal stars Beth Mead and Leah Williamson. But club and country teammate Lotte Wubben-Moy insists “they’ll be with us all along”.

“Both Beth and Leah have been to a World Cup before and they know how special a moment it is to be selected, get on the plane and go,” the defender said.

“They’re such remarkable characters, such remarkable humans, so there’s the regret and sadness they have, but also [the] understanding that they want us to be the best that we can.

“Their impact can still be felt and the words of encouragement and support that they have [given us] is invaluable to the team and they’ll be with us all along.”

Ex-Stoke Newington School sixth-former Wubben-Moy played every minute, as captain, of the Under-17s World Cup in 2016, but this is her first outing on this senior stage.

An unused substitute at Euro 2022, the 24-year-old says she learned a lot about herself during that home tournament, nevertheless, and will take those lessons to Australia.

“All too often you can be shortsighted or longsighted from the [external] noise,” she says. “What’s unique about this team [is] we’re so able to shut everything off and live life somewhat normally within camp.

“So be consistent, do what you need to for yourself and that will contribute to the team, and I’m speaking not just on the pitch, but also off the pitch. I think it’s so valuable.”

Wubben-Moy says her pens, paper and books will be among the go-to items that keep her “grounded” at this World Cup. And just as at the Euros, the lifelong Gooner is planning to keep a “doodle diary” of her experiences.

“It’s less about everyone else, it’s more, like I said, consistency,” she said. “I love to have something that I do every day and can express myself with.”

Arsenal fans will hope Wubben-Moy gets to express herself on the pitch during the 32-nation tournament.

With 10 caps, she is still on the fringes. But the versatility she showed as her club struggled with injuries last season could stand her – and England – in good stead.

“Anything can happen at a World Cup: injuries happen, illness happens,” she said. “The team that gets the furthest, I think, is the most versatile and the most adaptable to adversity in that sense.”

England’s first test comes on Saturday against debutants Haiti, ranked 53rd in the world. Kick-off is at 10.30am UK time and the match is live on ITV1. Group D rivals Denmark and China play at 1pm – that match is on BBC2.