17 October 2023 , 09:08
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Manchester United defender Gabby George has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and will undergo surgery on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old was forced off just nine minutes into the Red Devils’ 1-1 Women’s Super League draw with Leicester City at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.
George fell to the turf after giving chase to a loose ball. After receiving medical treatment, the defender was carried off by two members of staff and looked to be in visible distress.
United boss Marc Skinner described the scale of the injury as “not looking good” after the match, adding: “I wouldn’t imagine it looks good. We will look after Gabby. I hope she is okay.”
And Skinner confirmed in his press conference ahead of his Champions League qualifying second-leg against Paris Saint Germain that George will undergo surgery on Tuesday and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after rupturing her ACL in a cruel setback for the promising England defender.
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"I would always put 12 months on this sort of injury," the manager said. "It’s devastating news. She will come back stronger, I’ve no doubt about that. We’ll make sure Gabby is supported and loved."
He added: "When I spoke to Gabby and said ‘is there anything I can do for you?’ she said ‘can you win in Paris?’" It is the second time George has sustained an injury of such nature.
The former Everton player ruptured her ACL in an FA Cup fixture with the Toffees in February 2020 and was subsequently sidelined for 12 months. George made the switch from Merseyside to Manchester on deadline day this summer after her release clause was triggered.
Gabby George of Manchester United receives medical treatment (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)The injury threatens to mark a major setback to Skinner's defence as George has impressed heavily since slotting into the left-back position. Her displays prompted calls for her inclusion in Sarina Wiegman's upcoming Lionesses squad for the inaugural Women's Nations League campaign, having being overlooked for the Women's World Cup.
The left-back showed an especially composed display in United's 1-1 draw with French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the midweek Champions League qualifying first-leg, and a trip to Paris for the second-leg on Wednesday without George risks becoming a daunting task.
The ACL injury to George represents the second to afflict Skinner's squad after new signing Emma Watson ruptured her ACL earlier this season while on international duty with Scotland.
The WSL and women's football as a whole have been ravaged by ACL injuries in recent years, with last season in particular seeing a startling rise in the rate of injury.
At one point, the ostensible ACL epidemic had sidelined a quarter of the nominees for last year’s Ballon d’Or, feeding into an historic Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand blighted by a slew of names unavailable for selection.