Morgan Details Levell & Scofield Injuries
- Goalkeeper Kirstie Levell has been ruled out of LCFC Women’s upcoming fixtures
- The 24-year-old picked up a knee injury against Brighton, Jonathan Morgan told the media
- Demi Lambourne is set to deputise in Sunday’s WSL encounter with Everton
- Connie Scofield is recovering well from a broken foot, the manager also revealed
The goalkeeper, who was nominated for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Player of the Month award in October, has delivered a series of impressive performances between the sticks for the Foxes so far this term.
The former Everton shot-stopper had played every minute of every league game to date but is now set to be absent due to a knee injury picked up during the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
The manager explained: “Unfortunately we’ve added another long-term injury to the list in Kirstie Levell. That happened in the Brighton game, another very unlucky injury for us.
“It was a melee from a corner, a Brighton player fell on her knee and she’s got to have an operation. It’s a meniscus in the knee. She needs to have part of it shaved off.
“We’re now just waiting for the operation. That’ll be done in the next couple of weeks. It’s probably about an eight-to-10-week rehab and recovery period so we’re looking at between 12 weeks and 14 weeks at the worst.”
Demi Lambourne, who has started both of Leicester’s Continental Tyres League Cup fixtures in 2021/22, including the midweek victory over Durham, is set to deputise in this weekend’s return to league action against Everton. The Foxes host the Toffees in a 2pm kick-off at Pirelli Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s a big blow to us as you can imagine with her form," he continued. "She’s been phenomenal. She’s a brilliant 'keeper, she’s kept us in games. It’s going to be a huge miss and I can’t hide our disappointment.
“She can’t play through it, but it is what is it. We have a squad and I believe in every single player. We just regroup and go again. It’s Demi Lambourne’s time to shine now. She’ll step up to be no.1 for the foreseeable and I’m sure she will.
“Every injury has just been freak incidents in games. We’ve only had one muscular injury all season. It comes from impact and that’s what is really hurting us at the minute. It’s another one for us to navigate around and to see what we can do.”
There was some more positive news on Connie Scofield’s recovery from a broken foot, however, as the former Birmingham City midfielder continues to work her way back to fitness.
Scofield is waiting to make her competitive debut for the Foxes and could be in contention to do so early in the new year, according to City’s manager.
“We should have her back hopefully around Christmas time,” Morgan said. “She’s now back kicking the ball, using the facilities to improve her condition. She’s working very hard in the gym at the minute.
“It’s a big miss again. Connie was someone we highlighted, with the way we needed to play this season, she was picked to deliver that for us this season with her energy, intensity and natural fitness levels, but over the first half of the season we haven’t been able to utilise that.”