England ahead Fran Kirby will endure knee surgical procedure and miss the ladies’s World Cup, the Chelsea participant mentioned on Tuesday, including to a rising record of English gamers sidelined with knee accidents.
England captain Leah Williamson was the most recent to be dominated out final month with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) whereas Beth Mead, who additionally ruptured her ACL in November, has not returned to motion.
The damage can also be a blow to Chelsea, which is third within the Women’s Super League, seven factors behind chief Manchester United with three video games in hand.
“Unfortunately after a few months of rehab the decision has been 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,” Kirby mentioned in a press release.
“I’m absolutely gutted to announce that this means my season is over and I will not be able to make the World Cup in the summer.
“I’m going to be doing everything possible to be ready for the start of next season and want to wish my team mates at Chelsea the best of luck for the rest of the season and my Lioness team mates the best of luck for the summer.”
Chelsea, which can also be within the FA Cup remaining the place it’ll face United later this month, mentioned Kirby — a two-time participant of the yr award winner — could be out for a “significant period”.
England is in Group D together with Haiti, Denmark and China on the 32-team World Cup which kicks off on July 20 and shall be held in Australia and New Zealand.
England was one of many favourites after profitable the Euros final yr.
RECURRING THEME
Knee accidents have been a recurring theme prior to now yr with Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas lacking a bit of Barcelona’s season after tearing her ACL on the eve of the Euros in July. She didn’t return to the squad till final month.
Arsenal ahead Vivianne Miedema’s marketing campaign additionally ended because of an ACL damage in December, with the Netherlands’ file goalscorer saying she would miss the World Cup after present process surgical procedure.
Chelsea and England centre again Millie Bright, in the meantime, was dominated out for a number of extra weeks with the knee damage she suffered in March.
Reeling from accidents to key gamers, each Arsenal and Chelsea had been knocked out of the Champions League within the semifinals.
England defender Lucy Bronze additionally underwent surgical procedure on her proper knee final week however is predicted to return earlier than the top of the season after Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez mentioned she could be out for “just a couple of weeks”.
Simone Magill of Northern Ireland and France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto have additionally broken ACLs prior to now yr.
With the record of knee accidents — significantly ACLs — solely rising, there have been requires higher analysis into the prevalence of accidents in girls’s soccer.
