Lauren Hemp: England’s dynamic winger in profile

Manchester City forward will be a tireless attacking threat at the World Cup

Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp has shone for England at the Women’s World Cup, elevating her status with the Lionesses.

She was part of one of the most dynamic attacking threats at Euro 2022, providing a steady supply of crosses into the box from the left, while unafraid to cut inside for a shot, Hemp perfectly complimented Beth Mead’s game on the opposite flank.

A key goal against Colombia, to level the game at 1-1 in the Women’s world Cup quarter-final, showed Hemp is a player for the big stage.

While not prolific for the Lionesses, having only scored once during the Euros in an 8-0 demolition of Norway in the group stages, but she did supply the crucial extra-time corner that was poked home by Chloe Kelly in the final against Germany to secure the trophy and send an 87,000-strong Wembley crowd into raptures.

But Hemp, 22, can certainly finish, having scored 10 for her country at senior level in 38 games, four of which came in a brutal 20-0 thrashing of Latvia in November 2021.

Get all the latest Women’s World Cup odds here

Since last summer’s triumph, Sarina Wiegman has experimented with playing her as a number nine in a friendly against the USA last October, which paid off when Hemp scored early on in a 2-1 win, giving the manager fresh food for thought as she seeks a permanent replacement for retired record goalscorer Ellen White up front.

Hailing from North Walsham in Norfolk, she began her career with her hometown team, playing alongside her sister Amy, before moving on to Norwich City to continue her youth career.

From there, Hemp moved west to play for Bristol City, where she scored nine goals in 24 appearances between 2016 and 2018 and was named England’s Young Player of the Year for 2017, catching the eye of Manchester City.

She has since scored 30 times for the blue half of Manchester in 81 games to date, including in the 2019 FA Cup Final when she came off the bench to net the winner and lift her first trophy.