KELLY SMITH's season was left in tatters after it was confirmed that she has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
Smith, 23, sustained the devastating injury in an innocuous incident during the second half of Philadelphia Charge's goalless draw with WUSA defending champions San Jose CyberRays on Saturday, June 2.
The injury the same as that suffered by Robert Pires, Paul Gascoigne, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and Alan Shearer is expected to keep the England Ladies star out of action for up to a year.
Garston-born Smith, who had earned the league's player of the month award after a sparkling start to the new season, is expected to undergo surgery in the next 14-21 days and will then face a gruelling rehabilitation.
The blow will come as a crushing one to England's hopes of qualifying for their first ever World Cup in China next year as they prepare to face Iceland in a two-legged play-off without their star player.
June 10, 2002 14:00
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