READING WOMEN have been rocked by the news that Jade Moore will miss several months with an ankle injury.
The Lionesses midfielder has been in fine form ever since joining the Royals from Notts County back in May, scoring in the 5-0 win over Bristol City last month.
But the England international is now facing a spell on the sidelines.
“It’s not a good one,” manager Kelly Chambers told The Wokingham Paper.
“Unfortunately she’s going to be out for a long period of time.
“We’ll get her sorted with surgery in the next couple of days, but she’s going to be a long-term injury.
“It was from the Bristol game. Something of nothing really and it’s really frustrating.”
She added: “She’s going to be a massive miss for us for what she brings in and out of possession.
“But the strength in depth of my squad now just shows that we can cope with that and she’ll be back no doubt fitter and stronger.”
Moore was on crutches at Adams Park on Wednesday evening to watch on as Reading eased past Watford Ladies 4-0 in the Conti Cup.
Although the prognosis is as yet unclear, she will definitely miss England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kazhakstan and will be out of action until
the new year.
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Chambers also gave an update on striker Melissa Fletcher, who is yet to make an appearance this season.
“There’s a bit of a stall with her,” said the manager.
“She was meant to be back a week ago, but her injury is just taking a little bit longer than we thought.
“Hopefully we’ll see her back in the next couple of weeks and I’ll look forward to having her back as well.”
Reading go to Arsenal in the Conti Cup on Sunday.