Sheffield United have confirmed the news that captain Sophie Barker will be sidelined for a significant period with a Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) injury.
The 31-year-old midfielder returned to the South Yorkshire club in the summer on a loan deal from Barclays Women’s Super League side Leicester City but it will be a significant period of time before Barker will get to pull on the red and white jersey again in a competitive fixture. The Blades have confirmed that Barker has undergone surgery on her injury and she is unlikely to be seen in action until the end of the year.
After starring for former second tier club Doncaster Rovers Belles, Barker initially joined Sheffield United in 2018 ahead of their first season in the elite game. The player made 32 appearances for The Blades in the Barclays Women’s Championship in her first spell, in which she scored two goals.
Barker joined Leicester City in 2020 and she went on to help the club to win the Barclays Women’s Championship title in her first season in the East Midlands before struggling for game time in the top flight in 2021/2022.
The midfielder re-joined Sheffield United on a loan deal in July with head coach Neil Redfearn putting his faith in the player by handing her the captain’s armband, a role which she previously held at the club in her initial spell.
Further updates on Barker’s fitness are expected to be provided in due course.
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