The Wellington Phoenix will be without Rebecca Lake for the remainder of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League.
The club’s and Lake’s worst fears have been realised with scans confirming the centre back ruptured the ligaments in her left foot in the second round defeat to Canberra United at Porirua Park earlier this month.
It was only her second A-League game back after a high ankle sprain abruptly ended her maiden season in March.
She is expected to be sidelined for at least six months after she has surgery.
“I’m obviously pretty gutted,” Lake said. “I was ready to build on last season and I felt like I had a bit of unfinished business.
“But I’ve had some time to process it and I just want to get into surgery and start the rehab.
“I’m still going to be supporting the girls all the way, that’s for sure.”
The Canterbury defender will meet her surgeon today (Tuesday) and plans to remain with the Phoenix and do her rehab at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS).
“I feel like I recover a lot faster when I’m around physios all the time and obviously we’ve got the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill) and other facilities at NZCIS as well, so when I am able to get out of my boot and start running I’ve definitely got everything here that I need.
“I want to show that I can smash this rehab the second time around and come back to the Nix, if I get the opportunity.”
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple says Lake is going to be missed.
“We all really feel for Bex,” Temple said. “She is a major part of the team, not only as a key figure at the back but as our vice-captain.
“It’s cruel this has happened so early in our campaign and after she had worked so hard during the year to come back from the ankle injury which brought an early end to her first pro season.
“Bex was set to have a breakout year and it’s gut-wrenching we have to wait another 12 months to see her make her mark at this level.”
Thankfully Paul Temple hasn’t also lost his captain to a serious injury.
Annalie Longo copped a nasty blow to her head late in Sunday’s third round defeat to Newcastle Jets and it was feared she had fractured her eye socket.
But scans have since cleared Longo of any fracture or concussion.
There is still severe bruising around her left eye and she’s unlikely to feature against Adelaide United in Friday night’s Unite Round match at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
Main image: Rebecca Lake warms up for the second round Ninja A-League match against Canberra United at Porirua Park. Photo: Ryan Imray/Imray’s Snaps.
