Crystal Palace lose top scorer Hughes to ACL injury | OneFootball

Crystal Palace will be without the services of top scorer Elise Hughes for a considerable period with the player having sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.

The Eagles confirmed the devastating news this afternoon via a post on their official club website.

It has been reported that Hughes sustained the injury during Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Lewes at The Dripping Pan. The forward was replaced by Araya Dennis after just 29 minutes of that match. Hughes’ injury has now been assessed and it is bad news with the player having ruptured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

Hughes will now undergo surgery before beginning her rehabilitation. The player is set to miss at least the first half of next season, a campaign which looks set to be Crystal Palace’s first as a Barclays Women’s Super League club.

The forward has played a massive role in Crystal Palace’s hugely successful season. She has scored 16 goals in 21 Barclays Women’s Championship appearances, helping her side to an almost-certain promotion. Crystal Palace will officially become this season’s Barclays Women’s Championship champions on Sunday afternoon, barring a 22-goal swing against them.

At least 4,500 fans are expected to attend Crystal Palace’s final Barclays Women’s Championship fixture against Sunderland at Selhurst Park this weekend with The Eagles set to lift the league trophy after the game.