Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby says she is ‘absolutely gutted’ to be missing the World Cup after learning she will require surgery for a knee injury that will leave her out of action for a “significant period”.

Kirby, 29, was unavailable for Sarina Wiegman’s most recent England squad in April and will also miss Chelsea’s challenge for a fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title and this month’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.

In a tweet posted following an official statement from her club, Kirby revealed efforts to rehabilitate the injury, sustained in Chelsea’s Continental League Cup semi-final in February, had failed to restore her fitness.

She wrote: ‘Unfortunately after a few months of rehab the decision has made that I will require surgery on my knee. I have been trying my best to not have to undergo this but unfortunately my progress has been limited due to the issue in my knee.

‘I’m absolutely gutted to announce my season is over and I will not be able to make the World Cup in the summer.

Wiegman is set to announce her squad for the upcoming tournament in late May.

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