Canberra United is counting the costs from Saturday’s fixture against Sydney FC with a number of injury concerns heading into the most important three games of the Westfield W-League season.
Canberra United is counting the costs from Saturday-s fixture against Sydney FC with a number of injury concerns heading into the most important three games of the Westfield W-League season.
Saturday was the first time this season that head coach Robbie Hooker has had the opportunity of selecting his starting eleven from a full strength side but that won-t be available again this year.
“Obviously we can only have this luxury once a year,” a frustrated Hooker said following Saturday-s match.
“Next week with a couple players out we-re back to normal.”
With injuries and suspensions to key players for the first six rounds, a fully fit Canberra United outfit took on Sydney FC in a bruising round seven fixture with a number of players fighting to be fit for next weekend-s must win game against the Central Coast Mariners.
Stand out performer this season, Grace Gill, was helped off the park after 57 minutes with a grade two ligament tear in her ankle with the number nine now sidelined for what-s likely to be the remainder of the season.
Gill sustained the injury early in the second half of Canberra United-s 1-all draw with Sydney FC after rolling her ankle innocuously.
Along with Gill, Rhian Davies has a grade one tear in her right quad which should keep the experienced Matilda out of the side for only a week but the defender was unavailable for selection this weekend due to work commitments.
Minor knocks to Amy Chapman (strained Glut muscle), Thea Slatyer (bruised ribcage), Lydia Williams (rolled left ankle) and Caitlin Munoz (corked knee) will be keeping the physiotherapist busy this week.
Despite the overcrowding of Canberra United-s casualty ward, Gill is the only player expected to miss out on next weekend-s important meeting with the Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
