Lucy Bronze undergoes keyhole knee surgery

Barcelona's Lucy Bronze has undergone keyhole surgery amid fears that a knee injury sustained in Saturday's UEFA Women's Champions League clash at Chelsea is serious.

The right-back was withdrawn in the 65th minute of the semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge, causing Bronze to hobble off the pitch and receive medical attention.

She later reappeared on the bench with her knee strapped with ice and after the full-time whistle, she applauded the away fans alongside her teammates, walking with a limp.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Barcelona confirmed that Bronze has undergone surgery.

"Lucy Bronze has undergone arthroscopy on the right knee. She is out against Chelsea and the evolution will mark her availability," the statement read.

At a press conference shortly following the release of this statement, head coach Jonatan Giraldez said: "She has a strain, an ailment. It’s a tiny intervention, just a couple of weeks"

Speaking directly after Saturday's match, Giraldez had said: "She felt pain in the knee but I think she's fine right now. I was talking to her immediately after the game. It was scary at first but right now I think she's fine."

The injury scare comes at a crucial time in Barcelona's season as they look to make it to back-to-back UWCL finals having all but wrapped up Liga F and already won the Supercopa de Espana.

The England camp will also be monitoring the situation after already been hit hard by injuries to several key players ahead of the Women's World Cup.

Captain Leah Williamson was ruled out of the upcoming tournament after rupturing her ACL with Arsenal in a recent WSL defeat to Manchester United.

Beth Mead is also expected to miss the tournament after injuring her ACL last November in a match against the same team.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's Millie Bright has too picked up a knee injury (although not an ACL), and her fitness for the World Cup is also in doubt.