Ireland star Megan Campbell suffers serious knee injury during Manchester City Champions League clash

Republic of Ireland and Manchester City Women defender Megan Campbell faces a major injury lay off after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament.

 

Campbell was stretchered off early in the second half of City’s 2-1 (7-1 on aggregate) victory over Norwegian side LSK Kvinner in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday after going down innocuously.

 

The 24-year-old Drogheda native confirmed the extent of her injury on her twitter account earlier today.

 

She said: “Hard to put into words how I'm feeling right now other than truly devastated! This morning my worst nightmare was unfortunately confirmed... My ACL in my right knee has completely ruptured leaving surgery and a tough rehabilitation road ahead!”

 

Campbell signed for Man City in February 2016 and is no stranger to coming back from serious injuries having endured a horrid 2016 which included an ankle ligament injury on international duty before tearing her quad during her rehabilitation.

 



However, in August 2016 came her worst injury as she tore a ligament off the bone leading to ankle reconstruction surgery and eight months on the sidelines. Despite this new setback, Campbell remains ever positive that she will bounce back. 

 

“It won't be easy as injuries never are, but I know that with the support of my family, friends, teammates, and all of @mancitywomen I will be back to play for both club and country very soon!”

 

“I've done it before and I know I'll do it again! Thanks for all the support and kind messages I have received over the last day it means so much,” Campbell said.

 



Campbell had been named in Colin Bell’s Republic of Ireland squad to face the Netherlands at the end of this month and had been an influential figure so far in the campaign, scoring one and getting an assist against Northern Ireland before her throw in lead to Denise O’Sullivan’s opener against Slovakia.

 

Bell noted Campbell’s role in Ireland’s wins in the campaign so far and has backed her to bounce back from this injury even stronger.

 

"It is a horrible moment in any players' career to suffer a long-term injury. Megan has worked extremely hard to make her way back from a previous injury, showing tremendous character to do so,” Bell said.

 

“She's been a vital part of the team with both her defensive and attacking capabilities, and she's a leader on and off the field. She'll be a big loss to us whilst she recovers but knowing her and determined character, I'm sure she'll be back even stronger.”

 

“She's already played a vital role in the first two wins of the campaign and hopefully, the team can continue that form which she has helped us build in her absence.”

 

Claire Walsh has also been ruled out of the trip to the Netherlands with Peamount United’s Niamh Farrelly and Galway’s Aislinn Meaney brought into the squad to replace the injured duo.