Injury update: Cushing provides Hemp and Knaak boost | OneFootball

Nick Cushing says Lauren Hemp and Rebecca Knaak have both returned to full training as City approach the business end of the campaign.

England international Hemp has been absent since our Barclays Women’s Super League victory over Spurs in November having undergone knee surgery shortly after the success.

Meanwhile, central defender Knaak has been sidelined since February’s international break meaning she’s missed our previous nine matches.

However, the Blues Interim Head Coach provided positive news on their rehabilitation, revealing they are back on the training field with the team.

Cushing didn't confirm whether they would return for our meeting with Everton on Sunday, but the boss did add that City are also buoyed by Aoba Fujino, Alex Greenwood and Ayaka Yamashita all making progress in their respective recovery programmes.

“In this challenging period of injuries, it’s been a real positive week for us in the sense that Rebecca Knaak trained with the team all week and is back with the team now,” he explained.

“Lauren Hemp trained with the team this week which is huge for us.

“Aoba Fujino and Alex Greenwood have pushed on and stepped up their rehab. Yamashita is in with the goalkeepers.

“It feels like we're making quick progress, starting to get players back and the squad’s starting to get that depth that we have back into training.

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“The team will look different, you’ll see that this weekend it will start to look different and into Leicester and beyond.

“It’s a huge positive for us.”

Elsewhere, Cushing provided the latest on Mary Fowler’s injury.

The Australia international sustained an issue in our FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United which was confirmed as a rupture to her Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

And our Interim Head Coach believes she’ll return from rehabilitation stronger than ever due to her tireless determination and the support of the Club’s medical staff.

He added: “As you can imagine, [Mary’s] incredibly disappointed.

“One because of the magnitude of the injury but also because the type of person she is, she’s disappointed she can’t help the team for the remaining part of the season.

“We have an incredible performance department here who’ve shown her really good support, myself, coaches and staff are there for Mary.

“She’ll come back stronger with the support, work ethic and incredible talent she has. She’ll come back stronger. Everyone’s disappointed but now it’s looking forward.”