In a remarkable and emotional comeback, England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has been named in the Lionesses squad for the first time since suffering a stroke that put her football career in serious jeopardy.
A Career in the Balance
The 26-year-old shot-stopper, a veteran of England's Euro 2022 squad and the 2023 World Cup, as well as a starter for Great Britain at the 2020 Olympics, received the call-up from manager Sarina Wiegman for upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana. This opportunity arises due to injuries to fellow goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating.
Roebuck's last appearance for her country was in 2023. Just six months after the World Cup, she suffered a left occipital infarct, a type of stroke. The incident sidelined her for six months and led her to question if she would ever play professional football again.
A Miraculous Recovery and Personal Struggle
In a candid interview with the BBC, Roebuck revealed the severity of her condition and the psychological toll it took. "I'm lucky because I should have lost my vision," she stated. "I should have lost my peripheral vision for sure. The majority of people that suffer a stroke [like mine] do that. So, I probably should have been blind, which is quite a miracle that that didn't happen."
She described the moment of diagnosis as filled with panic, admitting she never initially thought it was a stroke. Her first question to doctors was unequivocal: "Am I going to play football again?" The subsequent recovery period was a profound challenge. Advised not to carry shopping or exercise for six weeks, the professional athlete found her identity stripped away.
"I wouldn't walk my dog for like six weeks. I wouldn't leave the house. I was scared to do anything on my own," Roebuck shared. "And that was never me, I was always super independent. My mum and dad were doing shifts of living with me in my one-bedroom flat in Manchester."
Rebuilding a Career and Chasing Dreams
After her recovery, Roebuck had a spell with Barcelona before joining Aston Villa in the summer. She has made two appearances in the Women’s Super League so far this season, steadily rebuilding her form and confidence.
With Hampton and Keating unavailable, Wiegman's squad could also see debuts for Anna Moorhouse or Sophie Baggaley as England prepare to host China at Wembley. For Roebuck, however, the return to the national setup is a significant milestone in a patient and non-linear journey.
"I feel like I’m ready now," Roebuck told the BBC earlier this season. "It’s been a difficult 18 months and I guess it’s taken me some time to adapt to the new version of myself." She emphasised that she still has "aspirations" of starting for England and is determined to fulfil her potential, but on her own terms, acknowledging there are still good days and bad days in her ongoing recovery.
