'It doesn't look great': Matildas dealt fresh blow as Mary Fowler goes down with serious knee injury
Updated . First published
Mary Fowler has been placed under a cloud of doubt after she was forced out of Manchester City's FA Cup semi final loss with a potentially serious knee injury.
Fowler featured for just 24 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to cross-city rivals Manchester United on Monday as she seemingly overstretched for the ball and fell to the turf.
A lengthy stoppage in play was required as the 22-year-old received medical treatment on the pitch before she was assisted to her feet and limped to the bench.
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The troubling sight added another layer of anxiety for interim City coach Nick Cushing, who already has an extensive list of talent present on the sidelines due to injury.
"It doesn't look great in the sense of adding her back into the training squad or to the injured squad imminently," Cushing said of the forward's injury post-match.
Mary Fowler of Manchester City is injured. Visionhaus/Getty Images
"We'll have to wait, you don't know about the turnaround quickly.
"To lose Mary in an important game at an early sage was really difficult. I think it is the knee, but I don't want to speculate or confirm."
In a promising sign for City, Fowler did appear as if she was confident to continue on a little longer in the action but trainers were not willing to risk her.
"We're not fearing for the worst here," Cushing said.
"But ultimately, if you come off with knee pain, to turn it around in seven days [is tough].
"I don't know [how severe the injury is]. I'll leave it with the medical team."
It was a crushing end to Fowler's impressive run in recent weeks as she managed to help the Matildas to victory over South Korea while competing in major tournaments.
Manchester City's Mary Fowler leaves the pitch with an injury during the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-final. PA Images via Getty Images
City are hopeful Fowler's knee injury is only minor, and any time on the sidelines will prove to a be a costly blow for the the Australian national team.
The Matildas are already waiting for the return of star striker Sam Kerr as she continues her prolonged rehabilitation schedule for an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Chelsea have confirmed that Kerr's return to the field still could be a while away, with no clear timeline able to be determined as of yet.
The Matildas are next scheduled to play in an international friendly against Argentina on May 30 at Marvel Stadium.
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City was already down 2-0 when Fowler was removed from the field in the first half of the semi final but Cushing' team were unable to find a moment to hit back at their rivals.
The defeat marked the end of the club's quest for silverware in all competitions this season, having been knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea two weeks ago.
The Women's Super League title is also out of reach for Cushing's players as they sit seven points below the seven-time tournament champions.
