Matildas squad rocked by 'heartbreaking' injury

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Matildas midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight is each but retired of the Women's World Cup aft rupturing her near Achilles during a grooming league with Melbourne Victory connected Friday.

The Victory confirmed the campaign-ending wounded successful a connection connected Saturday. The setback comes conscionable months aft her instrumentality to the nationalist squad pursuing an ACL injury.

The 32-year-old volition spot a specializer successful the coming days to find the champion people of treatment.

Melbourne Victory manager of shot John Didulica expressed his disappointment for Kellond-Knight successful the lead-up to the location World Cup.

"Elise is 1 of the astir unthinkable radical and professionals successful the game, and we are each heartbroken for her," helium said.

Also ruled retired for the remainder of the A-League Women's season, Victory caput manager Jeff Hopkins said the squad was devastated to suffer Kellond-Knight.

"She has been an unthinkable contributor to our side, connected and disconnected the field," helium said.

"We're undoubtedly going to consciousness her nonaccomplishment arsenic we caput into the pointy extremity of the season."

Kellond-Knight returned to the Matildas' roster past November pursuing an extended interruption aft suffering an ACL teardrop successful 2020.

In a Football Australia statement, Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson echoed a akin sentiment.

"KK is simply a fantastic idiosyncratic firstly and has been a implicit nonrecreational successful moving diligently to instrumentality to the pitch," helium said.

"KK is 1 of the strongest and astir resilient radical and players I person coached, and our team, our unit and Football Australia arsenic an organisation volition situation her with beardown attraction and backing during a hard time."

The Matildas will look England and France successful planetary friendlies earlier coming up against the Republic of Ireland successful the opening circular of the World Cup connected July 20.

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