After cruciate ligament rupture

Injured ÖFB striker talks about her future

Linda Natter will be missing from the ÖFB team at the U20 World Cup in Colombia.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

A cruciate ligament rupture in her left knee in February ended ÖFB team striker Linda Natter's dream of taking part in this summer's U20 World Cup in Colombia. Now the 19-year-old talks about the timetable for her comeback and what her future looks like in Altach.

"I'm actually doing well. My knee feels stable and my mobility is getting better and better - everything's on track," says Linda Natter. The Altach striker, who is also a mainstay in the ÖFB U19 and U20 teams, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a friendly international match against Portugal on February 21. An initial check-up at the Hochrum Private Clinic, where she was operated on shortly afterwards by knee specialist Christian Fink, was positive. "And the next check-up is due in two weeks' time," says the Bregenzerwald native, who celebrated her 19th birthday on 12 May.

Comeback not until 2025
However, it remains to be seen when the goalscorer, who keeps her fingers crossed for her Altach team at almost every match in the Admiral Women's Bundesliga - including away from home - will return to action. "To be honest, I don't expect to be ready again until spring 2025," reveals Linda, whose contract with the Rheindörflerinnen expires in June of this year, but who currently expects to celebrate her comeback in the Vorarlberg Bundesliga club's kit.