Arsenal’s Beth Mead faces a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering an ACL injury

England star Beth Mead faces a race against time to be fit for next summer’s Women’s World Cup after suffering an ACL injury that is likely to keep her out for at least the rest of the Women’s Super League season.

Mead, winner of the Golden Boot at the Women’s Euros in July when England won their first major women’s international title, was injured while playing for her club Arsenal during Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have yet to put an exact timetable on her return as they say she will be assessed by a surgeon in the coming days, but it is understood that it usually takes at least six to nine months to recover from a torn ACL, or longer depending on the severity of the rupture.

The 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, for which England will be favourites, starts in just under eight months, on 20 July 2023.

A statement from the WSL club said on Tuesday afternoon: “We can confirm that Beth Mead suffered a torn ACL in our match against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

“Unfortunately this means that Beth will be out for a long time. She will be seeing a surgeon in the coming days and then further details of the timescales will be determined.

“Everyone at the club will now be supporting Beth and working hard to get her back on the pitch as soon as possible.”