In England’s four friendly matches to end 2025, manager Sarina Wiegman started three different players at left-back, and Bronze and Maya Le Tissier at right-back.
The Dutchwoman has made it clear she believes Le Tissier is the current back-up option for Bronze despite captaining Manchester United at centre-back.
Versatile Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan, who impressed at centre-back during Euro 2025, is also capable of playing on the right.
Speaking about her role in October, Morgan said: “I can fill in in different positions and I think that’s something that over my career has allowed me to get a lot more minutes than I might now have otherwise done if I was just rigid in one position.
“When I was at Manchester City, I played the vast majority of my minutes at full-back and that was really valuable in terms of being exposed [to playing] against world-class wingers. It’s all part of your development.
“Versatility is a huge strength but I think my best attributes probably serve me to be most useful at centre-back.”
In Le Tissier, Morgan and Gotham FC defender Jess Carter, Wiegman has players who can switch positions across the back four, despite centre-back being their preferred role.
The same can be said for Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood, who has been one of England’s most consistent performers under Wiegman.
She was overlooked at centre-back in Euro 2022 with Wiegman selecting Millie Bright and Leah Williamson, and started five of the six matches at Euro 2025 at left-back after the failed trial of playing play Carter there in the defeat by France.
Greenwood, 32, has been a solid solution but England have been exposed by pace more recently, so Wiegman needed to expand the search.
She called up Bay FC defender Anouk Denton in October, who is primarily a right-back but can play left-back, and persuaded Arsenal’s Taylor Hinds to switch allegiances from Jamaica to England at the end of last year.
Hinds started victories against Australia and Ghana at left-back in October and December respectively, while Chelsea’s Niamh Charles has struggled with injuries but has also played in the position.
The most recent option is London City Lionesses left-back Poppy Pattinson, who has been called up for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland in March.
“[Pattinson] plays at left-back, is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative. She likes to go forward and she can cover the whole wing on the left side,” said Wiegman.
“She is looking for passes forward which I thought was really good. Although she is not the tallest, she does use her body well in defence.
“You have seen different options. [Pattinson] is now one of them and Taylor [Hinds] has played there. In both the left full-back and right-back position, we are figuring out what’s best for the team.”
