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Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Injured Matildas star Mary Fowler surprises football fans with huge news
Mary Fowler has wowed fans and her team-mates after she took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that she was back training on grass in her footy boots just four months after she suffered a horror knee injury that required surgery. The Matildas superstar ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Manchester City 's Womens' FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United on April 13. Agonising scenes unfolded as the 22-year-old forward's 2024-25 season was cut short, with Fowler having enjoyed a brilliant season, netting 10 goals across all competitions for the Cityzens. According to one study, entitled Return to Play and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the National Women's Soccer League, the average rehabilitation process for female footballers tends to take around 12 months. And Fowler seems to be well on track with her recovery, with some hoping that she could be set to return to action as soon as November. She beamed from ear-to-ear as she jogged her way up and down the football field, appearing to also perform a few skips while also completing some work with a resistance band. Man City are currently completing a pre-season training camp at the iconic La Manga resort in Spain and the team were also seen arriving at the training complex on a set of push bikes. Fowler was seen riding in with her colleagues in a video published on the club's website, another good sign that her injury is healing. Concerns had mounted that Fowler was going to be absent for Australia's Asian Cup campaign in March 2026. But Australia boss Joe Montemurro revealed earlier in July that she was progressing much better than expected. 'I spoke to her the other day and she's on track,' Montemurro said. 'She's in Sydney at the moment doing some running.
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Women's Rugby World Cup final sold out with Twickenham set for record attendance
The Women's Rugby World Cup has officially declared a sell-out with upwards of 80,000 people expected to attend Twickenham in a record audience for a women's rugby game on 27 September. 375,000 tickets overall have been sold for the tournament already, greatly exceeding the 140,000 total attendance for the last Women's World Cup in New Zealand with all competition records set to be smashed in an event that will bring new visibility to the women's game. The opening fixture between England, favourites for success on home soil, and the United States will draw in excess of 40,000 people to Sunderland's Stadium of Light with hopes that the stadium may be full on Friday night. Selling out the home of English rugby had long been an ambition of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU), World Rugby and the local organising committee, and while the exact attendance will depend on certain operational details, all tickets available have now been sold. The current record crowd for a game of women's international 15-a-side rugby is the 58,948 for the grand slam decider between England and France at Twickenham in the 2023 Women's Six Nations. 'The final we are very confident will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that we saw [in the rugby sevens at] Paris 2024,' Gill Whitehead, chair of Rugby World Cup 2025, said. 'The last time England hosted the Women's Rugby World Cup, the girls played at the Stoop around the corner to a crowd of 13,000. I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago and the prospect of girls running out of the tunnel, playing to the three tiers of Twickenham packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see and it's certainly what girls' dreams are made of.' World Rugby have moved to a new hosting model since the last Women's World Cup, which was held in just three venues in New Zealand. Eight cities will be used at this year's tournament, with 90% of the population of England within a two-hour drive of one of the venues. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' Sarah Massey, managing director of the tournament, explained. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen. 'We're really pleased today to be able to announce that we've now sold 375,000 tickets across all those matches, surpassing all our initial ticket targets and really showing what this tournament is going to bring. That's three times the number of tickets that were sold for the last Women's Rugby World Cup. Our message to fans is, don't miss out. This is going to be unmissable. You're going to see thrilling action, electric atmospheres, and be quick, because those remaining tickets are really selling up fast."
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Transfer news live: Arsenal and Spurs in Eze update, Newcastle identify Isak replacement, new club in for Chelsea cast-off
Liverpool still hope to make additions to their squad before the transfer window closes in September and have two big names on their list of potential signings with the Reds aiming to bring in Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace 's Marc Guehi. Neither move is particularly close with negotiations ongoing though Isak has stopped training with the Newcastle squad and is keen for the move. The Reds have had a £110m bid rejected for the striker and are considering a second bid having raised more funds by completing a £25m sale of Ben Doak to Bournemouth. Eberechi Eze 's potential move to Tottenham Hotspur is dominating the closing stretch of the summer transfer window, with Crystal Palace negotiating a suitable payment structure in a deal worth more than £55m but the Eagles are also looking to hold onto Guehi despite Liverpool's interest. Manchester United continue to endure frustration with their goalkeeper situation, and could rival Manchester City for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma having seemingly ended their pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba who looks set to remain with the Seagulls. Tottenham identify Monaco star as Savinho alternative Tottenham Hotspur have identified Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche as a new target due to the lofty asking price for Manchester City 's Savinho, writes Miguel Delaney. In addition to the pursuit of Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Spurs have looked at the Brazilian winger, who was omitted from the City squad for the Premier League opener at Wolves last weekend, with the 21-year-old facing stiff competition this season to play every week under Pep Guardiola. City can also call on Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Oscar Bobb and Omar Marmoush to play out wide, though Savinho remains highly-rated by the club since joining from Troyes for £30.8m in 2024. And Akliouche has now emerged as a viable alternative, having impressed for the Ligue 1 giants last term with seven goals in all competitions and also registering in the first game of the season, a 3-1 win over Le Havre. Tottenham identify Monaco star as Savinho alternative The French attacking midfielder could emerge as a target with Manchester City holding firm on the Brazilian winger after Spurs registered two bids Miguel Delaney19 August 2025 13:00 Brighton have no intentions to sell Baleba Brighton CEO Paul Barber has reiterated the club's stance to keep hold of midfielder Carlos Baleba. Baleba has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer. "We are very much looking forward to Carlos being here for the season," Barber told Sky Sports News. "No intention whatsoever of seeing Carlos leave us. An important part of our squad and also of our starting eleven for most weeks in the season last year so we're looking forward to seeing what he can do this year. "We are very happy with Carlos and we are delighted that he'll be here for the season ahead." Mike Jones19 August 2025 12:52 Andrews unclear on Wissa situation Brentford boss Keith Andrews says he doesn't know what is happening with Yoane Wissa's situation but that there has been no change. "It's a day-by-day one in terms of Wiss," the Irishman said. "As far as I know nothing else has happened today, definitely didn't yesterday, so as it was really. "I have no idea what the situation will be, I have been up here since yesterday so we will deal with that during the week. "Hopefully it can resolve itself sooner rather than later. "We're always looking and there's a clear plan at the club if a player leaves." Mike Jones19 August 2025 12:45 The Leeds logic behind their 'magical night' – and why it could last Five years ago, Leeds United marked their return to the Premier League with a helter-skelter affair against opposition from Merseyside. Marcelo Bielsa's side lost 4-3 to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in a classic. In 2025, there was a superficial similarity in the fixture list, none whatsoever in the game but Leeds could savour an outcome they preferred. Everton were beaten 1-0 and, for the second time in the opening round of games, a promoted club tasted victory. Daniel Farke 's Leeds will never have the romance of Bielsa's but a prosaic win qualified as a 'really magic night' for a manager who entered his 50th Premier League game with just six wins to his name but who could claim the meagre resources at Norwich accounted for that record. The Leeds logic behind their 'magical night' – and why it could last Leeds United 1-0 Everton: Lukas Nmecha's late penalty gives the newly promoted side a perfect start with victory at Elland Road Richard Jolly19 August 2025 12:37 Brentford blocking Wissa move talkSPORT say that Brentford are continuing to block Yoane Wissa's potential move to Newcastle. The signing of Dango Ouattara, for a club record fee, was to replace Bryan Mbeumo after his move to Manchester United and the Bees want another forward before Wissa can leave. Sky Sports News also reported last week that Wissa's representatives were assured Brentford would engage with Newcastle if there was movement on forward reinforcements. Newcastle are not expected to offer above £40m who could play into things as well. 19 August 2025 12:25 Why has Bournemouth's new signing changed his name? Bournemouth's new signing Ben Gannon Doak arrived from Liverpool where he was registered as Ben Doak. The Scotland international wishes to be known as Gannon Doak to reflect both of his parents' names asked for the switch when signing his a five-year deal. Sky Sports reports that Gannon Doak is viewed as a replacement for Luis Sinisterra, who is set to join Brazilian side Cruzeiro on loan. Mike Jones19 August 2025 12:19 Spurs line up Savinho alternative Tottenham were interested in bringing Manchester City midfielder Savinho to the club this summer but it seems likely that the 21-year-old will remain at the Etihad. Spurs are now looking at Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche as an alternative. Akliouche is 23-years-old and scored five goals with 10 assists in 32 matches for Monaco last season. Miguel Delaney19 August 2025 12:13 Bournemouth complete signing of Ben Gannon Doak from Liverpool Bournemouth have completed the signing of Ben Gannon Doak from Liverpool in a deal worth £25m. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium. The agreement between the two Premier League clubs also includes a buy-back option for the Reds. Mike Jones19 August 2025 12:10 Why Liverpool have chosen Parma sensation Giovanni Leoni as Virgil van Dijk's successor The concept of 'winning' a transfer window more often than not boils down to how many players a team has signed. That being said, Liverpool could make a genuine claim to the crown with their summer business. Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold hurt, though to do so for £10m in order for the right-back to participate in the Club World Cup softened the blow of a potential free exit. Why Liverpool have chosen Parma's Giovanni Leoni as Virgil van Dijk's successor The imposing 18-year-old is set to join Liverpool after an impressive season in Serie A Ben McAleer19 August 2025 12:02 Villa 'alert' to spending rules "We are keeping balance, and we are respecting the rules," Unai Emery said about Aston Villa's transfer window with both Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey having left the club. Emery added: "We are being competitive in the transfer window. Since I arrived here, we have done fantastic windows, in January and the summer. We now have to be intelligent and alert in everything. "I think the most important is how we are building the team, trying to get as strong as possible with the players we have. "The club is working fantastic, and we are ambitious. We are ambitious, respecting the rules too, trying to get the best players possible. "We are not going to rest in case we can be with an option in the transfer window." Mike Jones19 August 2025 11:53
