Matildas 2022: Kyah Simon knee injury a huge blow to World Cup campaign

Kyah Simon has gone down with a major knee injury putting her home World Cup campaign in serious doubt and adding to the Matildas’ injury woes.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyah Simon of the Matildas reacts after a missed opportunity on goal during game one of the series International Friendly series between the Australia Matildas and the United States of America Women's National Team at Stadium Australia on November 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Matildas striker Kyah Simon has vowed to do everything in her power to be a part of Australia’s home World Cup campaign after confirming she had torn her ACL playing for Tottenham.

Simon was stretchered off following a collision while playing a Women’s League Cup match for the Spurs women against Reading, with immediate fears she had sustained serious damage to her knee.

Kyah Simon injured her knee playing with her club side Tottenahm Hotspur. Picture: Tottenham Hotspur

She took to social media late Tuesday night (Australian time) to confirm she had torn a cruciate ligament - an injury that could sideline her for up to a year, preventing her from taking part in a historic World Cup on home soil.

“Feared the worst, devastated to have torn my ACL in Sunday’s game,” Simon posted on Twitter.

“Sport can sometimes be so cruel. I’ll do every to be back as soon as I can”

Feared the worst, devastated to have torn my ACL in Sunday’s game 💔 Sport can sometimes be so cruel, I’ll do everything to be back as soon as I can x pic.twitter.com/cikYCxkzrk

— Kyah Simon (@KyahSimon) October 4, 2022

Her feed was flooded with messages of support from Matildas teammates including Sam Kerr, and Caitlin Foord and England’s Rachel Daly.

Simon’s injury is a hammer blow to a Matilda’s side already reeling from a massive injury toll ahead of clashes against South Africa and Denmark over the next week on the road to next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Emily van Egmond, Tameka Yallop and Clare Wheeler will also miss the South Africa and Denmark matches, while Alanna Kennedy (fractured shoulder) and Ellie Carpenter (ACL) also face long stints on the sideline.

The “Tillies” said they had Simon’s back though, Tweeting on Tuesday night that they were devastated for their 111-cap forward but right behind her.

Now 31, Simon faces an uphill battle to be fit in time for next year’s World Cup, which kicks off next July.

Originally published as Matildas 2022: Kyah Simon knee injury a huge blow to World Cup campaign