Crowded schedule may be behind injury trend, says US great Lloyd

NEW YORK: An increasingly gruelling schedule could be behind the rash of injuries that have sidelined top talent ahead of the Women's World Cup, former US forward Carli Lloyd told Reuters.

The United States' bid for an unprecedented third consecutive title took a hit in April when Mallory Swanson, widely seen as the key to the American attack, suffered a torn patella tendon, ruling her out of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Swanson's injury was part of an unsettling pattern worldwide, as Canadian Olympic gold medallist Janine Beckie and England captain Leah Williamson both suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries forcing them to miss the global showpiece that kicks off on Jul 20.

US midfielders Sam Mewis and Catarina Macario will also miss out on the quadrennial tournament as they were unable to recover from prior injuries in time.

"It's just devastating to see that so many players are going to miss out on the World Cup because they've gotten injured," Lloyd told Reuters. "Something kind of needs to be done about it to figure out exactly what is going on."

The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year enjoyed one of the most prolific careers in American soccer, winning the World Cup twice and earning two Olympic gold medals, and will serve as an analyst for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Lloyd, who earned a staggering 316 caps, the third-most in international women's football, during her more than 15-year career, was not immune to injuries, notably breaking her ankle in 2010.

But she said the recent series of injuries represents an undeniable trend, with Spain's Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto also suffering ACL injuries over the last year.

"There's