Mary Fowler has wowed fans and her team-mates after she took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that she was back training on grass in her footy boots just four months after she suffered a horror knee injury that required surgery.
The Matildas superstar ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Manchester City’s Womens’ FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United on April 13.
Agonising scenes unfolded as the 22-year-old forward’s 2024-25 season was cut short, with Fowler having enjoyed a brilliant season, netting 10 goals across all competitions for the Cityzens.
According to one study, entitled Return to Play and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the National Women’s Soccer League, the average rehabilitation process for female footballers tends to take around 12 months.
And Fowler seems to be well on track with her recovery, with some hoping that she could be set to return to action as soon as November.
She beamed from ear-to-ear as she jogged her way up and down the football field, appearing to also perform a few skips while also completing some work with a resistance band.
Man City are currently completing a pre-season training camp at the iconic La Manga resort in Spain and the team were also seen arriving at the training complex on a set of push bikes.
Fowler was seen riding in with her colleagues in a video published on the club’s website, another good sign that her injury is healing.
Concerns had mounted that Fowler was going to be absent for Australia’s Asian Cup campaign in March 2026.
But Australia boss Joe Montemurro revealed earlier in July that she was progressing much better than expected.
‘I spoke to her the other day and she’s on track,’ Montemurro said.
‘She’s in Sydney at the moment doing some running.
‘She’s looking good, and she should be hopefully back playing before November.’
Fowler has also lifted the lid on the unique and rather interesting philosophy that is keeping her positive during her recovery.
‘I have recently made a conscious effort to think that I don’t have like a bad knee that needs to be fixed, but I’m getting an upgrade and I’m getting an even better knee,’ she said.
‘I have heard that a lot of girls when they come back… it can be up to a year to feel like probably normal again.
‘I feel like 90 per cent of that is going to be a mental block and so it’s something that I’ve thought about and been like, why don’t I just start changing how I think about it now already?’
It comes as the footy star had recently returned to Europe following a trip back home to visit her family in Australia.
The 22-year-old spent some time with her family and boyfriend Nathan Cleary as well as a coffee date with Australian Olympic superstar Jess Fox.
More to follow…
