Australia and Manchester City star Mary Fowler has provided an update on her ACL injury, as she hopes to return in time for the Asian Cup.
Fowler ruptured her ACL during Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United in April.
With Australia hosting the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Fowler is determined to be fit in time to represent her country at the tournament.
Mary Fowler ACL injury update
Speaking to Nine Wide World of Sports, Mary Fowler provided an update on her ACL injury rehabilitation.
She said: “The rehab has been going really well. I’m about seven months in now, and I’m feeling good.
“As I’ve said from the start, I’m just going to keep listening to my body so that when I do come back, I’ll be in the best shape possible. Hopefully, that’s in a couple of months, but I’m going to stay patient with it and see how my body goes.”
Fowler faces a rush against time to be fit to represent Australia at the Asian Cup.
She added: “I’d love to be back in time for the Asian Cup, and it is something I’m working towards, but I’m also not putting the pressure of a timeline on my body because I don’t want to rush anything.”
Fowler joined Australia’s camp during the last international window to gain insight into new head coach Joe Montemurro’s philosophy.
Meanwhile, she has also been undergoing her rehabilitation with the help of Manchester City’s medical staff.
When does the Asian Cup start?
Fowler has just over three months to return and get herself in shape for the Asian Cup.
The tournament runs from March 1st to March 21st, 2026, and also serves as qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Australia are in Group A alongside South Korea, Iran and the Philippines.
Fowler has an uphill challenge to return in time for the tournament. However, Australia have been boosted by the recent return of Sam Kerr, who also had an ACL injury.
Mary Fowler’s racism claims
Fowler’s comments come after the release of her book ‘Bloom’, in which she alleged that she and another player received bananas instead of flowers as a leaving gift from a former teammate at Montpellier.
Fowler was 17 when she joined Montpellier in 2020 and played there for two-and-a-half seasons before leaving for Manchester City.
Montpellier strongly denied Fowler’s claims, saying there was no evidence to support her allegations.
