Menzies allays Shaw injury fears

National senior women's football coach Hue Menzies says striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, will be ready for the Reggae Girlz's first FIFA Women's World Cup match against Brazil on June 9.

This is after the striker limped off the field in the team's 3-2 defeat to Scotland on Tuesday.

Shaw was substituted in the 69th minute, just moments after coming out on the wrong end of a challenge from Scotland defender Rachel Corsie, leaving Reggae Girlz fans worried about the striker's well being ahead of the team's historic Women's World Cup debut.

"She's fine," Menzies told STAR Sports via telephone yesterday. "We are not going to tell you where she got hurt. We can't send that out in public, but she'll be fine. No (she was not feeling any discomfort), she just had her leg swollen, but she's good."

Powerful left foot shot

The Jamaicans took the lead in the game in the 15th minute, thanks to a powerful left foot shot from Shaw. But the Scots rallied with two superb goals from Caroline Weir (30th) and Erin Cuthbert (35th) to go 2-1 up at the break.

However, four minutes into the second-half the Girlz drew level when Shaw stole possession and shimmied around the Scotland goalkeeper Lee Alexander to tie the score at 2-2. But just past the hour mark, the Jamaican striker was left writhing in pain on the ground and had to be substituted after she received a kick in the shin from Corsie after dancing around the Scottish defender. The Jamaicans then conceded a Sophie Howard header from a corner in the 68th minute to go down 3-2.

But Menzies thought he saw enough from the Girlz after Shaw departed the field with 20 minutes remaining, to give him the confidence that they can still be competitive without the goal-scoring ace.

"Bunny makes us better, no doubt," he said. "She is very important to us, but she is not the whole team. We have other players that can step in and play the number nine (centre forward) spot. Yes, she does give us presence and goals, but, if she's out, other persons have to step up," he said.