England star Sue Smith suffers career-threatening knee injury
- Published
Sue Smith has made 93 appearances for England
Sue Smith has suffered a potentially career-ending injury on her Doncaster Rovers Belles debut.
The 32-year-old England star faces at least nine months out after damaging cruciate and medial knee ligaments in Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup win at Barnet.
Smith, who scored in the game, was stretchered off after half an hour following an awkward landing.
She had hoped to be included in Team GB's squad for the London 2012 Olympics as an overage player.
Smith joined Doncaster Rovers Belles in December 2011 after a spell at Lincoln Ladies, and was part of the England squad that finished fourth in the Cyprus Cup last week.
She has made 93 appearances for her country, scoring 16 goals.
Smith suffered a bad injury during training in January 2002 when she broke her right leg, and dislocated and tore the ligaments of her right ankle.