England forward Beth Mead says she has not given up hope of playing in this summer’s World Cup after revealing she is “ahead of schedule” in her recovery from a knee injury.
Mead, who was top scorer and player of the tournament in England’s historic Euro 2022 triumph, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in November during a Women’s Super League home defeat to Manchester United.
That appeared to put her involvement in the Australia and New Zealand tournament in jeopardy, but the Arsenal player says a World Cup opener against Haiti on July 22 remains a target.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mead said of her return: “Realistically next season is sensible — but I’m not sensible!
“The World Cup is obviously my motivation. I want to do my best to get to a World Cup. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be but it’s something for me to strive and reach towards.
“I’m ahead of schedule so far — I want to keep it that way. It’s a long injury and there are a lot of ups and downs.
“The rehab is going well. (I’m) 11 weeks post-op, counting down the days. It’s going very slowly but it’s been good for me to sit down and reflect to look back on the year we’ve had, the legacy that we’ve created as a women’s team.”
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