Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor says midfielder Jill Roord will return to the squad for Sunday’s Women’s Super League (WSL) match against Brighton and Hove Albion, eight months on from suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Roord is back in full training after being sidelined since City’s Continental Cup group-stage victory over Manchester United at the end of January.
Recovery from an ACL injury and returning to action can typically take between six months to over a year, and while the 27-year-old will not feature during Thursday’s Champions League qualifier against Paris FC, she is set to be in contention for her side’s second WSL game of the season this weekend.
“(Roord is) closer,” Taylor said. “This weekend is where you’ll see Jill back in the squad. That was always our plan over the last few weeks, but she’s in full training. She’s really performing to a high level.
“The natural inclination is to get her involved sooner if we can. As coaches, we always push that and have good conversations with the medical team. They’ve done an excellent job. The way Jill has embraced her plan has been top. Even to get her back for Brighton on Sunday for some period of the game is testament to her and all of the medical team here.”
Roord was City’s marquee signing before the 2023-24 season when she joined from Wolfsburg. She provided six goals and two assists in 11 WSL appearances before being sidelined.
Jess Park stepped up in Roord’s absence and finished the season with four goals, while City have added further depth in attacking midfield this summer with the signing of Roord’s Netherlands team-mate Vivianne Miedema.
City drew their WSL opener against Arsenal on Sunday and can secure a place in the Champions League group stages on Thursday evening as they take a 3-0 lead against Paris FC into their second leg.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw will also be available for Thursday’s fixture after missing the away leg in France due to a Visa issue.
(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
