Everton Women have confirmed forward Inma Gabarro sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Spain international came off in the 11th minute at Walton Hall Park and had the knee injury confirmed by a scan this week.
Gabarro, 21, becomes the second Everton player in as many weeks to suffer an ACL injury after Italy midfielder Aurora Galli, 27, was forced off against Brighton and Hove Albion the week before.
Recovery from an ACL injury and returning to action can typically take between six months to over a year.
Gabarro joined Everton from Sevilla this summer and Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United was just her second appearance for the club.
She will join Galli in rehabilitating under the care of Everton’s medical team.
In research cited by the Professional Footballers’ Association, women are two to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than men, with two-thirds of these injuries occurring where there is no physical contact.
An Everton statement read: “Everyone at Everton is thinking of Inma and wishes her all the best with her recovery.”
Reporting: Jess Hopkins
(Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
