USWNT and Chelsea forward Mia Fishel has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and has been replaced by Alex Morgan on the CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.
Fishel, 22, sustained the injury to her right knee during national team training on Monday and will return to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground to begin her rehabilitation programme.
Morgan will be on the game roster for the USWNT’s Gold Cup opener against the Dominican Republic today (Tuesday).
The 34-year-old had not been named on the USWNT’s December roster and was initially notable absentee for the Gold Cup, alongside fellow veteran Becky Sauerbrunn.
“I’m gutted for Mia, and I know the team and the entire staff is as well,” said U.S. interim head coach Twila Kilgore. “She’s been very effective in camp and has worked hard to make an impact. Since she’s been getting call-ups to the national team, she’s shown a tremendous growth mindset, a desire to absorb information and has been a total team player. I know she’ll come back strong and hopefully be in the mix for the next World Cup.
“As we start this tournament, we’re fortunate to be able to add a player like Alex to the roster. Her accomplishments speak for themselves, she’s been training extremely hard with the Wave in preseason, and I know she’ll be more than ready to contribute in this tournament.”
Fishel is the second Chelsea forward to suffer an ACL injury this season after Sam Kerr was sidelined during a training camp in January.
She has scored once in 10 Women’s Super League appearances this season following her summer move from Tigres. Fishel has been capped three times at senior international level and has scored one goal.
The inaugural W Gold Cup features 12 teams, eight from CONCACAF and four guest nations: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.
The U.S. also plays Argentina and Mexico in its other two group stage fixtures.
(Getty Images)
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