Chelsea have confirmed that forward Mia Fishel has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty with the United States. The official club statement issued on chelseafc.com indicates that the 22-year-old ‘will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days and will then begin her rehabilitation with the club’s medical team at Cobham.’
Fishel’s absence will come as a serious blow to Chelsea, who find themselves engaged in a fierce title fight in Emma Hayes’ final season with the club. The longstanding manager will leave London at the conclusion of the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League season to take charge of the United States Women’s National Team.
Hayes’ Chelsea have already lost Sam Kerr to the same injury this season, with the Australian forward having ruptured her ACL during the club’s warm weather training camp in Morocco last month.
The frequency of these injuries is nothing short of alarming, and to lose two forwards in as many months could severely dampen Chelsea’s hopes of silverware given that they only remain above Manchester City due to their superior number of goals scored.
The Blues do have something of an insurance plan in place though, with Mayra Ramírez having joined the club in January for a then-record fee. Hayes usually prefers to grant her signings time before throwing them in at the deep end – but the Colombian striker must now step up to the plate, and fast, if Chelsea are to salvage their season.
The burden won’t just fall on Ramírez though. Throughout the first half of the season, fans have seen the likes of Aggie Beever-Jones and Lauren James develop in front of goal – and the duo will play an important role in keeping Chelsea’s domestic and continental dreams alive before the Blues wave goodbye to Emma Hayes in May.
