In a major development for the Lionesses’ World Cup campaign, England captain Millie bright is expected to be fully recovered from knee surgery in time for the opening game of the tournament.
The Chelsea defender has been out with injury since March but has been named captain of the side following Leah Williamson’s unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Millie bright’s determination and confidence shines through as she expresses her hope for a return to the pitch in an interview. “I feel as fresh mentally and physically as I’ve ever felt,” she said. Reflecting on his recovery progress, he added, “I think we’re actually a little bit ahead (of schedule). Coming into it, there’s a big chunk of time before the first game, so we’re really Confident and everything is going well. The way we wanted it to go.”
The 29-year-old defender suffered a knee injury during Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Lyon, sparking concerns over his availability for the upcoming World Cup. However, Bright’s dedication to his recovery and his commitment to representing his country have remained unwavering.
While Millie bright will miss England’s final World Cup warm-up friendly against Portugal, she is “really confident” to be ready for the opening game of the tournament. The centre-back has been training individually and believes he is on the right track to recovery. “It’s really good,” he said of his progress. “I’m just training individually, ticking the boxes to get me ready for when I can get back into the team.”
Bright will undoubtedly be missed during England’s match against Portugal, but the team understands the importance of ensuring his full recovery. With a comprehensive training plan in place, his focus is on match fitness for the crucial opening match against Haiti on July 22 in Brisbane.
The veteran defender, who was instrumental in England’s Euro 2022 victory and Chelsea’s successful domestic campaign, sees his injury as a blessing in disguise. “I think the number of minutes I’ve played to get to this point has been ridiculous… It’s been a long year. I call it a blessing, something I’ve been able to achieve mentally and physically. I’ve been successful. A clean slate and let my body heal.”
