Wales and Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle faces an extended stay on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury.
Ingle damaged her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Chelsea’s pre-season win over Feyenoord on 7 September.
Chelsea confirmed the injury, saying: “Following assessment by the club’s medical team and a knee specialist, Sophie will soon undergo surgery before beginning a period of rehabilitation at the club.”
Ingle will miss Wales’ crucial Women’s European Championship 2025 qualifying play-off first-round double-header against Slovakia in October.
The 33-year-old will also sit out a large chunk of Chelsea’s season, with their opening Women’s Super League (WSL) game at home against Aston Villa this Friday.
Manager Sonia Bompastor had said after Chelsea’s 9-0 win over Feyenoord: “Sophie [Ingle], it was her knee, she got kicked in the beginning of the second half.”
Ingle, who can also slot into defence, has won 139 Wales caps since making her senior international debut in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Azerbaijan in 2009, and first captained her country in 2015.
Rhian Wilkinson‘s side are away in the first leg to Slovakia on Friday, 25 October before hosting them in the second leg at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, 29 October as they bid to reach the 2025 finals in Switzerland.
The second round of the play-offs will be played on 27 November and 3 December, with either Georgia or the Republic of Ireland awaiting Wales if they progress.
Wales, who are ranked 31st in the world, are seeking a first major tournament appearance.
Ingle has played more WSL games than any other footballer, having passed the previous record mark of 183 in November 2023.
She began her career at Vale Wanderers in Dinas Powys and Cardiff City Ladies before moving to Chelsea, then had spells at Bristol Academy and Liverpool before returning to Chelsea in 2018.