Two ACL injuries a 'big blow' for Everton - Sorensen

Gabarro joined Everton in July following the expiry of her contract with Sevilla

Everton manager Brian Sorensen says it is a "big blow" that two of his players suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries eight days apart from each other.

Spain forward Inma Gabarro was carried off on a stretcher in the 11th minute of Sunday's 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the Women's Super League.

Meanwhile, Italy's Aurora Galli was injured in their season opener against Brighton, which the Toffees lost 4-0.

"It's extremely tough, especially with the small squad we have. It's two really good players for us, high profile," Sorensen said.

"We hadn’t had an ACL for three years and now two in a week which is never fun."

Gabarro, who joined Everton in July following the expiry of her contract with Sevilla, landed awkwardly following an innocuous challenge with United's Leah Galton.

"To see her go down in what I call a freak injury where she gets the push and lands wrong," Sorensen said. "That's nothing to do with fatigue, it's 10 minutes into the game. It's just really bad luck."

In April, a three-year project researching ACL prevention was launched in the WSL.

Sorensen said Everton had also analysed factors influencing player injuries after the club endured an injury-plagued 2023-24 season.

"We take everything into consideration and make sure, especially with this small squad, we need people healthy. That's the aim. A big blow but nothing we can do about it," he said.

"We have to look forward to the squad we have and keep them as healthy as we can because we can't afford losing more."

Everton, who travel to Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Sunday, have yet to score a league goal this season and sit second from bottom in the WSL table.

Despite the poor start to the 2024-25 campaign and losing Gabarro and Galli to ACL injuries, Sorensen said his squad have "handled it really well".

"The group is quite resilient after all the injuries we had. Its not ideal but that's the way it is in football," he said.

"We can't start not going 100% into everything we do, whether it's a tackle or a duel. We have to do 100, otherwise what's the point. We have to have that mentality as a team, and the girls agree."