England's George never doubted comeback from ACL

Manchester United defender Gabby George says she "never questioned" her ability to come back from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury this year.

The 27-year-old suffered the knee injury just a month after joining childhood club Manchester United in October 2023, having previously done the same at Everton in 2020.

But now she is starting regularly for Manchester United and this week earned a recall to the England squad for the first time since November 2022.

"This injury is all about mentality. You will always recover physically but it is mentally where it challenges you," said George.

"My surgeon on my first ACL injury said 'there are no guarantees you will come back' - but I knew I would. The staff knew I had that mentality at United and pushed me every day. I never questioned it.

"I wanted to do it, I wanted to play football and I wanted to play for Manchester United again. That is what I've done."

Manchester United signed Gabby George from Everton for £150,000 in 2023

'I'm not stopping here'

George has been a key part of a United defence that has kept five clean sheets in eight Women's Super League matches this season.

Her performances have drawn the attention of England manager Sarina Wiegman for the upcoming friendly matches against the United States and Switzerland.

"My ultimate aim was to get back out on the pitch, perform and enjoy my football. It's difficult when you have something taken away from you. You realise how much you want to do it," said George.

"Getting an international call-up is what dreams are made of. But playing for Manchester United week in, week out, is always what dreams are made of for me.

"I'm a girl that grew up in Manchester supporting Manchester United. It's been a great few months but I'm not stopping here.

"I always want to push on. I always want to improve. I've not been perfect. I know that. But I'm happy with where I'm at."

George says her strong mentality comes from her parents, but suffering the ACL injury a second time was "definitely more difficult" than the first.

"I had just signed for Manchester United and I had so many dreams and ambitions that I wanted to achieve and it was all taken away from me within four games," said George.

"The hardest part of an injury is understanding why, and you never know why. It was a difficult moment and I'm happy to have come through it with the help of Manchester United.

"The highs are always better than the lows. To anyone that's going through an ACL, I'd always give them the advice that the mentality is the crucial part.

"We've got so much research on it now to come back from it, it's just about your mentality - trusting yourself and trusting your knee again."

'It shows how far I've come'

George has never played at Wembley Stadium, having missed FA Cup finals with both Everton and United because of ACL injuries.

She is hoping to be part of the squad selected to face the USA, the Olympic champions, at Wembley on Saturday (17:20 GMT kick-off).

"It's what dreams are made of, playing for your country. I was sat waiting for my surgery 12 months ago so it shows how far I have come," said George.

"At the time, I was speechless [when Wiegman called]. I was stuttering on the phone and I'm never lost for words! I was buzzing.

"When you've been through so much and you get those little wins, it's a big thing for you.

"I've been through a lot over the last few years. Celebrating the little wins always keep you going."