Arsenal forward Beth Mead is hoping to make a full return from her ACL injury in the club’s pre-season programme.
The 28-year-old has been sidelined with her injury since November and she will miss this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with England.
Mead started her rehabilitation several weeks ago with some gym work and the player has revealed that she has now reached a point where she can kick a football once again. Contact training will be the next step in her recovery, something which isn’t too far away.
“I’m doing really well, I’m kicking a football again, so I’m actually a footballer,” Mead said. “I’m pretty much doing everything bar contact, so I’m in a really good place.
“It was obviously a little bit too soon to play at the World Cup.”
Mead will have the opportunity to rest in the coming weeks before working with the Arsenal fitness coaches over the summer. The player has set her sights on being ready to start the 2023/2024 season on the weekend of 29 September 2023-1 October 2023.
She said “I am nearly at the end of a big block of rehab training and then I’m allowed a couple of weeks off to go on holiday, refresh and spend a bit of time with my family.
“I’ll spend most of my rehab at Arsenal this summer after my holiday. I should be ready for pre-season to start the season, so I’m in a good space.”
There was a small chance that Mead could have been fit to go to this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup but the decision was made for her to remain at home and protect her long-term fitness. Mead said that the correct decision has been made.
“She (Sarina Wiegman) obviously spoke to me two or three weeks ago,” Mead said. “As much as we would have both loved for me to go (to the World Cup), I want to play my best football. If I was to go to a World Cup, I probably wouldn’t be able to do that because I haven’t played any minutes.
“As a player, that’s tough because people would expect me at my best level if I’d have gone to the World Cup. Right now, it is not feasible for me to do that.
“Sarina laid it out. I’m in her future plans, she wants me fit and she doesn’t want to risk me at a certain level because the risk is higher to do it again. It was a clever decision in the end.”
Mead was speaking to the media including FAWSL Full-Time at a UEFA #WePlayStrong event in Eindhoven. More information about #WePlayStrong can be found by clicking here.