Miedema, 28, was a second-half substitute for the Netherlands in their 3-1 Nations League victory against Austria earlier this week. However, shortly after scoring her side’s third goal of the match, she was substituted with the muscular problem.
Interim City manager Nick Cushing said he expects the Dutch forward to miss the final stages of the campaign.
“We’ve lost Viv and that’s something the medical team are ongoing with,“ Cushing said. ”She’s positive but it’s not looking good in the sense of being able to imminently impact any of our games.
“It’s hugely disappointing for Viv because of the role she’s played on the pitch and for me personally because she’s been so pivotal in the results I’ve got with this team.
“She’s played a huge role in dragging this team up and she’s done the same today in the meeting room and on the training pitch.
“She’s positive and concentrating on rehab now, and we’ll give her all the support she needs to be back out there as quick as possible.”
Miedema, who had six goal involvements across eight appearances in March, adds to City’s absences, which include top scorer Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
The Jamaica international, who has 19 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions this season for City, sustained a muscle injury in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Women’s League Cup final in March.
City have been ravaged by injury this season. England internationals Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood have been sidelined with knee injuries since the end of last year, while Japan international Aoba Fujino has been out since March’s League Cup final defeat with a muscular injury.
Fujino, Greenwood and Hemp were in training this week, but a return to competitive play this weekend is too soon, Cushing said.
“We can’t afford to have more injuries so they’ll be back at the right time,” he said. “We’ve put together a five-week plan to get to an FA Cup final, to qualify for the Champions League and they’re part of that plan, they’re involved in that planning and we’re comfortable we can get them to a place where they can contribute. When that is is difficult to say. It’s not going to be this game. But things happen fast in football, but we have to continue to get results.
“Of course we want these players back in the squad but the ones we have currently are giving us performance levels that are contributing to wins.”
City sit fourth in the WSL, seven points off Champions League qualification with Manchester United occupying third place. Marc Skinner’s side won last season’s FA Cup.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Manchester City, UK Women's Football
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