Sweden’s star forward Johanna Rytting Kaneryd faces a tight deadline to recover for the pivotal World Cup qualifying encounter against Denmark tomorrow night.
Sweden’s head coach Tony Gustavsson has acknowledged that the Chelsea striker is at significant risk of being sidelined for the match.
“I haven’t entirely ruled it out, but I want to be upfront with you and with her,” he commented, as reported by Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen.
A minor calf injury kept Rytting Kaneryd from participating in Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal earlier this month, and her recovery is being assessed closely.
The forward has been seen training individually ahead of the match. However, Gustavsson has indicated that he doesn’t expect her to play, with a final decision to be made following discussions with the medical staff on Monday night.
“No matter what information I receive tonight, the chances of her featuring tomorrow are extremely slim. We have other attacking options who have been training consistently for an entire week and are match-ready,” Gustavsson stated, noting that replacing the Chelsea striker will be a considerable challenge.
“To be frank, it is indeed a challenge. There are numerous hurdles to overcome, and it’s evident that there’s only so much this squad can handle. With new players joining us, rotation, and the infusion of young talent, especially in terms of leadership—beyond just football skills—we have invested a great deal of effort into that,” the coach explained.
Gustavsson mentioned that BK Häcken’s Monica Jusu Bah could be a viable substitution for Rytting Kaneryd:
“Those who attended training this week would have noticed that she has spent some time on the right. This is a player we believe can operate in both roles. She’s certainly an option for us as well.”
Sweden is set to face Denmark at Gamla Ullevi Arena in Gothenburg on Tuesday evening at 19:00 CET.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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