Injured Adelaide Thunderbirds duo Beth Cobden and Chelsea Pitman face scans

Adelaide Thunderbirds and England face an anxious wait for the results of scans for injured pair Beth Cobden and Chelsea Pitman after a day to forget on Saturday.

• Thunderbirds no match for Vixens as injuries take toll

Adelaide Thunderbirds midcourter Beth Cobden’s season and World Cup hopes for England hinge on scans on her left knee on Monday amid fears she has ruptured her ACL.

The talented wing defence, who made her Super Netball debut this season nine months after her second knee reconstruction, damaged her knee in the second quarter of the loss to Melbourne Vixens in Mile End on Saturday.

The results of the scans are not just crucial for the Thunderbirds, but for England’s chances of World Cup glory with Cobden being a key factor in the Roses’ victory over the Diamonds in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medal decider last year.

The Roses will also be anxiously waiting the scans on Chelsea Pitman’s calf on Monday after the Thunderbirds’ co-captain aggravated an injury in the second quarter against the Vixens.

Netball SA high performance manager Melody Cooper said Cobden was obviously upset and going through a lot of emotions.

Thunderbirds midcourter Beth Cobden grimaces before going down in the loss to Melbourne Vixens on Saturday. She will have a scan on her knee today. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst, also the Roses assistant coach, visited Cobden on Sunday morning, while her teammates have been constant companions.

“I was with Beth straight away in the changerooms after she was injured and it was difficult for her,” Cooper said. “The priority for the club is to support her at the moment.

“That is what I love about this group, they are super tight and look after one another. We will sit tight until we confirm the extent of the injury.

“The first 24, 48 hours are quite critical for the athlete’s well being and we are telling everyone to sit tight until the scans.

“After the scans we can map out strategies around the rehab for Beth and Chelsea.”

Pitman hurt her calf in the opening minutes of the first game of the pre-season competition in Brisbane in March, but returned to the court for the opening round.

Chelsea Pitman, right, watches from the bench on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Cooper said the veteran had been taken out of the game against the Vixens as a precaution and the club was optimistic the injury is not serious.

“Chelsea felt a lot better straight after the game,” Cooper said. “Whether it is just an immediate response, what is it sort of thing.

“There are good signs there, but we are not going to rush it. Chelsea is critical for us at that end of the court.”

The Thunderbirds face Collingwood in Melbourne on Friday night and it is expected training partners will be called into the squad.

The training partners are youngsters Nyah Allen, Chelsea Blackman, Maisie Nankivell and Charlee Hodges, who is playing in New Zealand.

Blackman and Nankivell are the two midcourters in that group.