NEWS HAS EMERGED today that the Ireland women’s national team will have to do without one of their top players for for several months.
As the current first-choice left-back in Colin Bell’s side, Megan Campbell has been vital to their flawless start to the 2019 Women’s World Cup qualification campaign.
Solid defensively, the 24-year-old is a real threat going forward with her deliveries and trademark long throw-ins.
Campbell created the opener in their first qualifier against Northern Ireland, before getting herself among the goals in a 2-0 win. Away to Slovakia last month, she again caused havoc with her throw-ins for Denise O’Sullivan to score.
The Drogheda native — whose grandfather, Dubliners musician Eamonn Campbell, passed away recently — has been plying her club football with Manchester City since joining from Florida State Seminoles in 2016.
City crusied into the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League last night thanks to a 7-1 aggregate win over LSK Kvinner of Norway, but the game was marred by her injury early in the second half.
In a message on Twitter this evening, Campbell revealed that she has ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in her right knee and needs surgery, which will take a number of months to recover from.
Earlier today, she had been named in Ireland’s 21-strong squad to face European champions the Netherlands in Nijmegen on 28 November.
“Hard to put into words how I’m feeling right now other than truly devastated!” Campbell wrote.
This morning my worst nightmare was unfortunately confirmed… My ACL in my right knee has completely ruptured leaving surgery and a tough rehabilitation ahead!
“It won’t be easy as injuries never are, but I know that with the support of my family, friends, team-mates 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!”
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