Manchester City have confirmed Mary Fowler has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The 22-year-old Matildas star had limped from the field during her side’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by rivals Manchester United.
The Cityzens did not give a timeline for her return but, given the nature of the injury, it is expected that she will likely miss the remainder of the Womens’ Super League season.
It will also come as a huge blow for both the Matildas and Fowler, with the footballer set to now miss out on her side’s upcoming friendlies against Argentina in May.
Tom Sermanni’s side have been rocked with injury woes over the past two years, after their captain, and star striker, Sam Kerr also suffered a ruptured ACL in January 2024, and is yet to return to action.
The injury appeared to occur after the City star over-extended her right leg, in an attempt to recover a pass from team-mate Lily Murphy.
Fowler grounded her heel into the floor but immediately was seen crying out in agony as she droped to the ground, clutching her knee.
After the match, interim City manager Nick Cushing delivered an early prognosis on the injury, stating: ‘It doesn’t look great imminently.
Manchester City have confirmed that Mary Fowler has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament injury
The star Matildas forward suffered the agonising injury blow during Man City’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United
‘To lose Mary Fowler in an important game at an early stage, and to lose a goal, was catastrophic.
‘It is her knee. I don’t want to speculate, but we’re not fearing the worst.’
On Tuesday, City released a statement online confirming that the Australia forward had ruptured her ACL.
‘Manchester City can confirm Mary Fowler has suffered a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament,’ the club wrote.
‘Mary will remain under the care of the Club’s medical team and start her rehabilitation.
‘Everyone at City wishes Mary all the best on a full and speedy recovery.’
Fowler has been a pivotal creative outlet for city all season, utilising her brilliant pace of fthe wing to torment wing-backs in the WSL.
City’s title hopes have already been hampered by injury this season. Key players, Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood, Vivianne Miedema, Khadija Shaw and Jill Roord have all been sidelined this season for extended periods.
Stand-in manager, Nick Cushing told the BBC that their injury crisis must be ‘examined’ in the summer by club bosses.
‘With so many injuries, they can’t be all bad luck and they can’t all be down to bad practise,’ Cushing said.
Fowler had appeared to over-extend her right leg to receive a pass, before grounding her heel. She subsequently fell to the ground in agony, clutching her knee
Fowler had recently returned to Australia for the Matildas friendlies against South Korea. During that time, she was able to spend some time with her boyfriend and NRL star Nathan Cleary (pictured with Fowler)
Upon her return to Australia, Fowler (left) found the back of the net during her side’s 2-0 victory against South Korea
‘We have to look at everything. We have to look at why we’re sitting fourth in the league, why we’ve not won a trophy and why we’ve not got our best players [through injury].
‘The review process will be covering everything. I think we should be competing in every competition right until the end.’
The 22-year-old forward has scored six goals across 17 appearances for the Cityzen’s in the WSL League so far during the 2024-25 campaign.
She also recently found the back of the net for her national side, scoring during the Matildas’ recent 2-0 victory against South Korea on April 7.
One injury expert on social media had been left fearing the worst for the forward, who has enjoyed an excellent season with both City and Australia.
Brien Seeney, who is known on X as the NRL Physio, is a physiotherapist and injury analyst.
Having watched slow-motion footage of Fowler’s over-extension, you can see a movement of her tibia bone in her thigh, which alludes to an injury.
‘Concern for significant right knee injury for Mary Fowler. Non-contact, knee collapses in and can see shift of tibia below the knee,’ he wrote on X.
Cleary, who plays for the Penrith Panthers, has also endured a tough season, suffering a concussion during the early rounds of the campaign with his side also slumping to the bottom of the league
‘Video is never diagnostic, but this is as close as you will get – points heavily to an ACL injury. Really unfortunate.’
City’s medical team had shown clear concerns on the touchline after Fowler had fallen to the ground.
She had, surprisingly, appeared at first like she could continue but had been substituted in the 24th minute by Naomi Layzell.
Her injury compounded City’s woes further, as Fowler was being treated by medics when City had conceded their second goal in the 22nd minute. Grace Clinton struck home after Celin Bizet Ildhusoy took United’s first.
ACL injuries have been a hot topic in the women’s game over the past few years, following a stark rise in the number of players to have sustained a ruptured knee ligament.
Kerr has been sidelined for the whole of this season with an ACL injury, but looks to be soon to making her much anticipated return for Chelsea. Meanwhile, back in 2023, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, and Vivianne Miedema were all sidelined with ACL injuries.
It comes as City have also lost England internationals Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp to knee injuries already this season.
Greenwwood had underwent surgery to repair her medial collateral ligament (MCL) following the injury, while Hemp also underwent surgery on a meniscus issue.
City had announced at the end of March that both players were making good progress,
