Isabel Callaghan battling same ACL injury suffered by likes of Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Sam Kerr

It is the knee injury that is currently wreaking havoc within the women’s game.

Indeed, just in the last two years alone, global superstars such as Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Sam Kerr have all been sidelined by the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

And what is more, it is believed that almost 20 players missed the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 because of the complaint, which tends to rule the professionals out of action for anywhere between nine to 12 months.

Early research has suggested that female players are two to six times more likely to damage their ACLs compared to their male counterparts, with FIFA having sanctioned the release of funds for further investigations to take place.

And someone that knows all too well the pain – both physically and mentally – that particular injury causes is Isabel Callaghan.

The recently-turned 18-year-old ruptured her ACL back on 26 February while representing Comberton Village College in the ESFA National Cup – a competition that she helped the school to win back in 2023.

As is often the case when an injury of this type occurs, it was a fairly innocuous incident, with Callaghan having changed direction when the pain took hold.

“I knew straight away what I’d done. I was telling everyone around me it was my ACL,” said Callaghan, who scored five goals in 12 appearances for Histon’s Development side this season.

“It’s been brutal. The injury strips you of everything and you lose your independence.

“Football is my identity – I’ve been playing it since I was six years old. It’s a lot to take in when it happens and you know how long you won’t be able to play for.

“It’s been tough learning to walk again and the pain has been tough to deal with, but it’s probably been even tougher mentally.

“I’m really committed to my football, I give everything I’ve got to it.”

Yet whereas the professionals are able to go under the surgeon’s knife almost instantly to speed up the recovery process, Callaghan does not have that luxury.

The NHS waiting list for the required operation is 18 months and when factoring in the required rehabilitation period, it could be three years before she is able to lace up her boots and play competitively again.

As a result, a GoFundMe page has been set up as Callaghan seeks to go down the private route to speed up her return.

“It’s positive to see all of these great footballers get back to such a high level after the injury,” added Callaghan, who has represented Comberton Village College in the ESFA National Cup on more occasions than any other player.

“Nowadays players are able to return but had this been 15 or 20 years ago, that could have been the end of their playing days.

“I’m determined to get back as quickly as I can and I’m lucky to have so much support from Histon, my family and the school.

“It’s a long recovery process whenever you have the operation, but the private root looks to be more promising.

“I’ve missed a lot of football and also income from work because of the injury, so the sooner I can get back to normal the better.”

To visit Callaghan’s fundraising page, visit gofundme.com/f/fund-my-acl-reconstruction-surgery.