Chloe Kelly suffers injury on Lionesses duty in fresh blow to Arsenal

1. Sport
2. Football

Kelly received an increasingly rare start in England’s friendly against Ghana but her night ended before the half-hour mark

Get the Adam Clery Football Column. A newsletter that unpacks the absurdities and oddities of the beautiful game

The ACFC newsletter: unpacking football’s absurdities

Unpack football’s oddities with the ACFC newsletter

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Arsenal have been dealt a potential injury blow after Chloe Kelly limped off in the first half of England’s final friendly of the year against Ghana.

Kelly, whose off-the-bench heroics helped the Lionesses to a second consecutive Euros title in the summer, sparked concern at St Mary’s as she went down clutching her right leg.

It appeared that she may have tweaked a muscle and was fondling her hamstring as England physios took to the pitch.

With Kelly receiving treatment, it soon became clear that she wouldn’t be able to continue, with Sarina Wiegman unwilling to risk exacerbating the injury in a friendly clash.

She manages to hobble off the pitch without aid as Gunners teammate Beth Mead comes on to replace her before the half-hour mark, receiving a warm ovation as she enters the fray.

It acts as a gut-wrenching blow for Kelly, who despite being one of England’s most beloved and recognised players has struggled to start many games as of late and would have relished the opportunity to feature from the outset in Southampton.

Arsenal will also lament the injury and will be sweating over the timescale of the 27-year-old’s recovery, with Renee Slegers’ side trying to build a head of steam in the WSL after a mixed start to the campaign.

More about

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Most popular

Popular videos

Bulletin

Read next