Wellington Phoenix defender Rebecca Lake has suffered a season-ending injury, while captain Annalie Longo has avoided serious injury.
Lake will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season after scans confirmed a rupture of the ligaments in her left foot sustained during the Round 2 defeat to Canberra United.
It was only Lake’s second game back following a high ankle sprain that ended her maiden A-Leagues season prematurely in March.
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“I’m obviously pretty gutted,” Lake said. “I was ready to build on last season and I felt like I had a bit of unfinished business.
“But I’ve had some time to process it and I just want to get into surgery and start the rehab.
“I’m still going to be supporting the girls all the way, that’s for sure.”
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Lake is now set to undergo surgery as she plans to remain with the Phoenix while undergoing rehab.
“I feel like I recover a lot faster when I’m around physios all the time and obviously we’ve got the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill) and other facilities at NZCIS as well, so when I am able to get out of my boot and start running I’ve definitely got everything here that I need,” she continued.
“I want to show that I can smash this rehab the second time around and come back to the Nix, if I get the opportunity.”
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As for Phoenix skipper Longo, she has been cleared of serious injury though she is unlikely to feature in the Unite Round clash with Adelaide United in Sydney on Friday night.
However, scans have since cleared Longo of any fracture of concussion though she still has severe bruising around her left eye.
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“We all really feel for Bex,” Temple said of Lake. “She is a major part of the team, not only as a key figure at the back but as our vice-captain.
“It’s cruel this has happened so early in our campaign and after she had worked so hard during the year to come back from the ankle injury which brought an early end to her first pro season.
“Bex was set to have a breakout year and it’s gut-wrenching we have to wait another 12 months to see her make her mark at this level.”
