Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop in tears after suffering fresh injury blow

A devastating injury to veteran midfielder Tameka Yallop could rob the Matildas ahead of the Asian Cup.

Tameka Yallop grabs at her hamstring – an injury which could threaten her Asian Cup campaign. Picture: Getty

Matildas midfield veteran Tameka Yallop could face a race against the clock to be fit for the women’s football Asian Cup with fears she has again injured her right hamstring.

Yallop’s frustrations and fears all bubbled over when she suffered the injury blow while chasing a ball down in Brisbane Roar’s A-League Women’s match against Adelaide on Sunday.

The 34-year-old pulled up instantly and clutched at the back of her leg in the 40th minute, before going to the ground and punching it and then wiping tears from her face.

Yallop injured the same muscle in the final season game for Roar back in April.

She was out of action for close to six months – only just rejoining the Matildas for the recent home series against New Zealand.

Tameka Yallop leaves the field after suffering an injury playing for the Brisbane Roar. Picture: Getty

It was the first time Yallop had worked with new Australian women’s coach Joe Montemurro.

Yallop was given limited minutes against New Zealand, used off the bench, but Montemurro described her as being a key part of his plans for 2026 Asian Cup which starts on March 1.

Code Sports understands that Yallop has had a scan and severity of the injury is expected to be known by the end of the week.

The severity of the injury is expected to be known by the end of the week.

If it is the worst case scenario for Yallop, Sam Kerr would be the only remaining player in the Matildas squad to have won a major tournament – the 2010 Asian Cup.

Losing Yallop’s vast experience would certainly be a blow to Montemurro’s plans.

It is also a big blow to Yallop, who worked so hard to get back fit in time for the Asian Cup. The tournament is likely to be her last international campaign on Australian soil.

Yallop isn’t the only one in a race against the clock. Mary Fowler is yet to play after rupturing her ACL in April. The star attacker is expected to be back on the field for her club Manchester City in early January. Montemurro is planning as if Fowler will be fit in time for the Asian Cup.

Originally published as Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop in tears after suffering fresh injury blow