Following her stretchered departure during last week’s Champions League match against St Polten, the 31-year-old England international underwent surgery to repair her left knee’s medial collateral ligament (MCL). She has now promised in a social media message to return stronger.

“Not the ending to 2024 that I had planned,” she said on X, alongside a picture of herself in a hospital bed. I will put in a lot of effort to return to the field as soon as possible, but for now, I will take some time to spend with my family, who always make time for me. I appreciate your support this year and hope to see you all again soon.

Although an MCL tear is typically less severe than an anterior cruciate ligament tear, Greenwood may still need to miss a significant amount of time due to injury. The defender will be watching the 2025 European Championship, which starts in Switzerland in July of next year, and may be running out of time to play again this season.

In the upcoming months, City skipper Greenwood will gradually return to fitness after taking a break.