Matilda injury a big blow

MATILDAS star Elise Kellond-Knight is in danger of missing next year’s Olympic Games after suffering a serious knee injury.

The 29-year-old midfielder tore her ACL while playing for her Swedish club Kristianstads DFF against Rosengard.

With the Olympics a year away, Kellond-Knight will be in a race against time to prove her fitness for the tournament.

“Well that sucks. Confirmed ACL. The last 12 months were already the toughest by far … but looks like things can always get worse. Finding appreciation for other things in my life,” tweeted KellondKnight, who has struggled with hamstring and back problems in the past year.

Matildas coach Ante Milicic was adamant the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City star would “leave no stone unturned” in making a full recovery from her knee injury.

“[Kellond-Knight] is an important member of the Matildas squad and family, and while she will remain in Europe to commence her rehabilitation, she knows that the full support of the FFA medical and sports science departments are available to her day and night,” Milicic said.

Gold Coast-born KellondKnight has made 112 appearances for the Matildas and was named in the FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team in 2011 and 2015.

There is better news for Kellond-Knight’s Matildas teammate and fellow Queenslander Mackenzie Arnold, who has joined English Women’s Super League club West Ham.

Capped 24 times for the national team, former Roar goalkeeper Arnold said she was “delighted” to sign for the Hammers.