Steph Houghton hopes for World Cup chance after injury heartache

England's young fringe players will be looking to stake a claim for places in next year's World Cup squad when they face Germany in an Under-23 friendly international at Leicester on Thursday. Of the hopefuls that will line up against the Germans the 22-year-old Arsenal midfielder Steph Houghton has particular cause to covet a World Cup call-up after missing out on the last two major tournaments through injury. Houghton would have been the youngest England player at the 2007 World Cup but, two days before the squad flew to China, she broke a leg in a training accident. And shortly before the squad was announced for last year's European Championship finals she ruptured cruciate ligaments while with her previous club Leeds. "Missing the chance to go to the 2007 World Cup was the biggest disappointment of my career," said Houghton. "It was absolutely devastating but, if I can get into the squad for next year's finals in Germany, it will definitely make up for that setback and the one I had last year." After coming back from her cruciate injury in February Houghton returned to the senior England team as a substitute in last month's World Cup qualifying group match against Austria. "It was so good to pull that white shirt on again," she said. "Hopefully now I can do enough to earn a place in the World Cup squad, starting with a decent performance on Thursday against a German team that's as good as any in the world at Under-23 as well as at senior level." In the Premier League today Leeds lost 3-1 to third-placed Sunderland, who are just one point behind the joint leaders Blackburn and Nottingham Forest after a goalless draw in the top-of-the-table match.