In a major blow for both club and country, Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery. The 31-year-old England defender sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during City’s Women’s Champions League victory over Austrian side St. Pölten in December.
Greenwood, who has been a key figure for City this season as they sit second in the Women’s Super League, was stretchered off the pitch after sustaining the injury. The club announced she has since had a successful operation to repair her MCL.
Alex Greenwood has had successful surgery on a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. Our captain was stretchered off in the Blues’ 2-0 UEFA Women’s Champions League win over St. Pölten at the Joie Stadium.
Manchester City statement
Long Road to Recovery
While Manchester City did not provide a specific timeline for Greenwood’s return, MCL injuries typically require a substantial rehabilitation period of several months. This leaves the veteran defender facing a race against time to regain fitness ahead of this summer’s European Championship, which kicks off on July 2nd in Switzerland.
The experienced Greenwood has been an integral part of the England setup, starting in the Lionesses‘ run to the World Cup final in 2023. Her leadership and defensive prowess would be sorely missed if she is unable to recover in time for the Euros.
City Struggles in Greenwood’s Absence
Manchester City have already felt the impact of their captain’s absence, suffering defeats to Everton in the WSL and Barcelona in the Champions League following her injury. Manager Gareth Taylor is also without several other key players due to injury, including standout striker Khadija Shaw and wingers Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema.
As Greenwood begins her rehabilitation at City’s training ground, the club will be hoping for positive news on her recovery in the coming months. For now, they must navigate a tough run of domestic and European fixtures without their influential skipper.
Euros Hopes in the Balance
From an England perspective, manager Sarina Wiegman will be closely monitoring Greenwood’s progress as the Euros draw nearer. The left-back’s experience and leadership could prove vital in a major tournament, but her participation may hinge on avoiding any setbacks in rehab.
With the 2024 European Championship set to be the most competitive edition yet, England would love to have Greenwood fit and firing as they aim to back up their World Cup final appearance with another strong showing. For now, though, the focus for both player and her national team will simply be on taking the recovery process step by step.
As one of England’s most consistent performers in recent years, Alex Greenwood’s road to recovery will be closely watched by fans of both Manchester City and the Lionesses. The coming months will determine whether she can complete a timely return and take her place in England’s squad for the 2024 Euros. Until then, club and country alike will hope for a smooth rehabilitation for their defensive leader.
