Manchester City has announced that Australian forward Mary Fowler has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury that will bring her season to an abrupt end. Fowler sustained the injury during the Blues’ FA Women’s Cup semi-final against Manchester United, which concluded with a 2-0 defeat for City. The incident prompted a lengthy medical stoppage, during which Fowler received treatment on the field before being helped off and struggling to the bench.
Subsequent scans revealed that Fowler has damaged her right knee, resulting in a lengthy recovery period for the 22-year-old. While it remains unclear whether she will require reconstructive surgery, ACL recovery can range from six months to over a year.
With the home Asian Cup on the horizon in ten months, Fowler is now under pressure to regain fitness in time to represent the Matildas. Expressing her disappointment, Fowler released a statement through Football Australia, acknowledging the difficulty of her situation. “It’s never easy when something like this happens, especially when you’ve been working so hard and feeling good,” she noted, emphasizing her commitment to rehabilitation and her determination to come back stronger. She also expressed gratitude for the support she has received from teammates, family, friends, and fans.
Fowler will remain in North West England to begin her rehabilitation under the care of Manchester City’s medical team, while Football Australia’s performance support staff will monitor her progress closely. In a statement, Manchester City extended their best wishes for her recovery, hopeful for a smooth path ahead.
This latest injury setback adds to the challenges faced by the Matildas, as teammates Sam Kerr and Amy Sayer are also undergoing similar knee rehabilitation processes. Kerr, who has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained at the beginning of the previous year, has yet to return to action for either the national team or her club, Chelsea.
Overall, Fowler’s injury highlights the physical demands of professional sport and the challenges athletes face in maintaining peak performance amidst injuries.