3 weeks ago
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has been ruled retired for nan remainder of nan play pinch a ft injury.
Shaw is nan Women's Super League apical scorer this play pinch 21 goals successful 18 games.
But nan Jamaica world will miss nan remainder of nan run aft injuring her ft during City's 5-0 WSL triumph complete West Ham past Sunday.
"It is difficult for Bunny [Shaw's nickname], arsenic she has had an unthinkable season," City head Gareth Taylor said.
Shaw is 8 goals up of second-placed Lauren James successful nan WSL aureate footwear title and is City's grounds goal-scorer.
Her absence, aft suffering nan wounded towards nan extremity of nan first half against West Ham, is simply a awesome rustle to City's attempts to triumph a first WSL title since 2016.
Taylor, however, backed City's different attacking players to measurement up successful Shaw's absence.
"Bunny is our main number nine, but Mary [Fowler] has played there, Lauren [Hemp] has played there. Chloe [Kelly] is tin of playing there, Jess [Park] tin do a really bully occupation there," he said.
"Of course, we each understand what Bunny brings, she is specified a container player, she gives america a different measurement of playing. Now we will person a different benignant of number nine."
WSL leaders City could spell six points clear of reigning champions Chelsea if they hit bottommost nine Bristol City this Sunday, though they would person played 2 games much than nan second-placed Blues.
Shaw is nan latest important City subordinate to suffer a superior wounded this season.
Key midfielder Jill Roord is retired pinch an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, arsenic is back-up goalkeeper Sandy MacIver. England world keeper Ellie Roebuck is besides retired after suffering a changeable earlier this season.
Taylor said nan stresses of an aggravated schedule for elite women's footballers had played a domiciled successful City's wounded woes.
"We are really assured successful what we person successful nan group, but of people we want everyone available," he said.
"It's nan demands connected nan players these days, nan different environments - from nine football, to world and backmost to nan club, each different training environments and programmes, which intends unluckily players get these types of injuries."
