Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams is determined to make it back on the field in time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next June, having received the devastating news she will need her left knee reconstructed for the second time in two years.
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Canberra United's player of the year will return to Australia on Saturday and undergo a knee reconstruction straight away to repair her torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.
It will then be a race against the clock with her rehabilitation.
Williams, who established herself as Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper at the Asian Cup in May, will have 11 months to return from the injury and reclaim her place in the Matildas’ side for the World Cup in Canada, but is confident she can do it.
While scans only just confirmed the diagnosis, the Canberran said she immediately knew what she had done when her knee gave way while playing for the Western New York Flash in the US National Women's Soccer League last weekend, and the feeling was one of “devastation”.
“Straight away as I got in the change room and the doctor had a look at it, I rang everyone back at home with the national team and figured out where to go from there,” Williams said.
“Obviously the first thing I asked about was the World Cup and the possibility of that – they were really upbeat about that, which made me feel really positive.”
Adding to her disappointment is having to head home early from the US after she was in some of her best form with the gloves and with the Flash in contention for the play-offs, only three points separating the side from third place with six games remaining.
“I’m pretty devastated about that, when you’re thinking you’re coming good and something like this happens, it’s just another setback, but also it can be a blessing in disguise,” she said, noting her chance to ''get back to basics'' at home.
“We’ll see what happens with recovery and rehab, but I’m feeling actually really positive and kind of excited to get back on track and really work on everything that I need to do.
“The one advantage I have is that mentally I know what’s ahead of me and I know what’s required to get back onto the field.”
The thought of not returning to the field didn’t cross the 26-year-old’s mind, with her US colleagues spurring her on.
“I’ve had a lot of support here and obviously I play with really great players here in Western New York – like Abby (Wambach) and Carli (Lloyd, both two-time Olympic gold medalists) … they pretty much told me I’m not retiring; I think they made my mind up for me,'' she said.
“A lot of the girls from my team here in the US and other teams … have gone through one or two [reconstructions]. Everyone’s had some kind of hardship here in the league, so the fact I have their support I think has made it pretty easy.”
Williams will likely have a patella tendon graft this time, as opposed to the hamstring graft she had in 2012, which had her back on the field 12 months later.
