Manchester Metropolis’s title hopes took a blow with the announcement that Khadija Shaw has been dominated out for the rest of the season with a foot harm.
Shaw at present sits high of the Girls’s Tremendous League golden boot race with 21 targets in 18 video games this season, a complete which places her nicely forward of closest rival Lauren James, who’s eight behind.
However she picked up her harm throughout Man Metropolis’s 5-0 WSL victory over West Ham final weekend, a match through which she had scored twice within the first half, and can now miss the essential closing weeks of the top-flight marketing campaign.
Metropolis have been reliant on the Jamaican’s targets this season and can miss her in what’s prone to be one of the vital thrilling run-ins in WSL historical past.
Chelsea sit three factors behind Metropolis, nevertheless they’ve a sport in hand and aim distinction might find yourself being the figuring out issue if each groups are in a position to win all their remaining video games.
The Residents’ supervisor Gareth Taylor confirmed the Shaw blow in his pre match press convention forward of Sunday’s conflict with Bristol Metropolis, saying: “We have now a problem with Bunny, she’s sustained a foot harm which is able to preserve her out of the sport for sure and probably longer.
“It’s such a tough one for Bunny as a result of she’s had an unbelievable season.
“We had a sense it is perhaps a problem when she got here off the pitch [against West Ham] regardless that it was non-contact.
“She’ll be nicely taken care of by the medical crew.”
For the reason that begin of final season, @ManCityWomen‘s Bunny Shaw has recorded 51 aim contributions – essentially the most of any participant (41 targets, 10 assists). pic.twitter.com/Z6luElVmpB
— Barclays Girls’s Tremendous League (@BarclaysWSL) April 26, 2024
Metropolis should take into consideration who can fill the footwear of their star striker, however Taylor was assured about his crew’s choices regardless of the harm to Shaw.
“Bunny is our foremost quantity 9, however Mary [Fowler] has performed there, Lauren [Hemp] has performed there. Chloe [Kelly] is able to enjoying there, Jess [Park] can do a very good job there,” he stated.
“After all, all of us perceive what Bunny brings, she is such a field participant, she provides us a special method of enjoying. Now, we can have a special type of quantity 9.”
Metropolis did, nevertheless, have some excellent news to share as they’ve tied down Lioness Lauren Hemp on new three-year contract extension preserving her on the Joie Stadium till 2027.
Hemp has gained 4 trophies, whereas scoring 65 targets in 157 appearances, and has been a key participant within the evolution of Taylor’s aspect.
Man Metropolis have secured the winger, who was out of contract on the finish of the season and has attracted the eye of a few of Europe’s elite golf equipment corresponding to Barcelona.
This time period she has proved as productive as ever for Metropolis, scoring 9 targets and including six assists. She may even be key within the coming matches after the information of Shaw’s harm distress.
“I really feel at house right here in Manchester,” Hemp stated after signing the deal.
“With the squad we’ve got right here, we’re all the time studying and it’s so particular to be concerned at a membership the place we’re able to attaining something.
“I’m so keen about this membership and there’s no place I’d somewhat be. I’m very excited to maintain this journey going for the following few years.”
