‘Doesn’t look great’: Horror Mary Fowler injury rocks Matildas ahead of Asian Cup
Matildas superstar Mary Fowler has picked up a horror blow, which could see her miss the Asian Cup.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Matildas have been dealt a horror blow ahead of next year’s home Asian Cup with superstar forward Mary Fowler appearing to sustain a potentially serious knee injury in Manchester City’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by local rivals Manchester United.
The Matildas star limped off from the derby tie within the first 20 minutes of City’s 2-0 home defeat after requiring several minutes of treatment for a knee injury.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Fowler appeared to twist her right knee while overstretching.
After getting a toe to the ball, Fowler immediately collapsed to the ground in agony, clutching her knee before being helped to her feet and off the field several minutes later.
Following the game City interim manager Nick Cushing admitted “it doesn’t look great” for the 22-year-old.
“To lose Mary Fowler in an important game at an early stage, and to lose a goal, was catastrophic,” he said.
“It is her knee. I don’t want to speculate, but we’re not fearing the worst.”
However, according to prominent Australian sports physio Brien Seeney, he suggested video heavily suggests it is an ACL injury.
“Concern for a significant right knee injury for Mary Fowler. Non-contact, knee collapses in and can see a shift of tibia below the knee,” Seeney, also known as NRL Physio, wrote on X.
“Video is never diagnostic, but this is as close as you will get – points heavily to an ACL injury. Really unfortunate.”
A significant ACL injury could see Fowler sidelined for anywhere between several weeks to a year, with scans needed to confirm the extent of the injury.
An ACL injury has sidelined superstar striker Sam Kerr since January 2024 and if Fowler has in fact torn her ACL, it would almost certainly rule her out of the Matildas’ Asian Cup campaign on home soil in March next year.
It marked a disappointing end to what had been another solid week for Fowler, who scored for the Matildas in their win over South Korea before heading back for City’s big Cup clash.
For City, Fowler has been a key creative spark all season, especially in the absence of their other stars like Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema.
City’s defeat also ended any prospect of Australia’s two premier women’s players going head-to-head in the Cup final at Wembley in May, with Sam Kerr’s Chelsea having reached the final with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
Kerr herself is racing the clock to prove her fitness ahead of the final, with Chelsea saying she’s still “a few weeks away” from making her return.
Originally published as ‘Doesn’t look great’: Horror Mary Fowler injury rocks Matildas ahead of Asian Cup
Behind Matilda’s first step to making fashion dream a reality
Alanna Kennedy has built a reputation as a footballer in demand, but despite having many years ahead as an elite athlete, is already looking at setting up her own business off the pitch.
‘Just madness’: Ange reveals truth behind cheeky dig
Ange Postecoglou is hoping the ‘Stonecutter’s Credo’ can help Tottenham salvage a season that has gone “disastrously wrong” by winning the Europa League.