Jorja Fox: Chelsea defender finding strength after ACL 'heartbreak'

Jorja Fox hurt her knee while on loan at Brighton in May; the Chelsea full-back is four months into her post-surgery rehab; the time from the pitch has been the longest the England U23 international has ever spent without her boots on

Sky Sports News reporter

Wednesday 4 October 2023 08:13, UK

Jorja Fox says rupturing her ACL has been «heartbreaking», but the Chelsea defender is determined to come back even stronger from the setback.

The England U23 full-back hurt her knee while on loan at Brighton in May, becoming the latest player in the women's game to suffer from the injury.

But Fox, who is four months into her post-surgery rehab, insists she's now in the right frame of mind.

«I'm getting there slowly, but surely. I've had a few setbacks, which is to be expected on the journey, but I'm pushing through it,» Fox told Sky Sports.

«It was heart breaking. It's an injury you see so much, but never expect it to happen to you. I was in denial for a bit, but eventually it sunk in and I accepted it.

»I accepted it's just a bump in my journey that I'm going to have to overcome and, hopefully, I overcome it better on the other side."

ACL injuries in the women's game have become increasingly prevalent, with players including Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Alexia Putellas and, more recently, Caroline Weir all suffering from the problem over the last couple of years.

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«Every time someone goes down now in the women's game you think, 'oh god, is it an ACL?' because it's a huge issue,» she said, «but it gets a lot of coverage these days. People forget there are other injuries that can rule you out for the same period