The league’s leading scorer will not play again this season due to a foot injury. Could that stop the Cityzens from winning the WSL?

As the Women's Super League title run-in intensifies, Manchester City can boast a squad packed with match-winners and world-class talents who can make a difference at both ends, experienced international footballers who know how to cope with moments of high pressure. But can any of them fill the void that has been left by Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw's season-ending injury?

Shaw has been immaculate for City this season, scoring 21 goals in just 18 league outings, shaking off that 'doesn't score in the big games' nonsense with one in each Manchester derby and a decisive effort in the win at fellow contenders Chelsea in February. She appeared to be hitting top gear just at the right time, too, her unstoppable header against West Ham on Sunday making it six goals in four games.

But after bagging a brace in the eventual 5-0 win, she pulled up. Lauren Hemp had started a promising counter-attack and picked out Jess Park, whose shot was well-saved by Mackenzie Arnold. Shaw was following it up, in case Arnold parried it into her path, but then she felt something and limped to the side of the goal. There was no challenge, no contact, but the WSL's leading goal-scorer sustained a foot injury that has ruled her out of the last three games of the season.

Man City head coach Gareth Taylor was defiant after the game. "We'll deal with it," he said. "If it's more serious than we anticipate, then we'll deal with it." But that is certainly easier said than done. The Cityzens have three games left in their bid for a first WSL title in eight years; how do they get over the line without their star striker?

Getty ImagesOne of a kind

There are two big reasons why Shaw’s injury is such a blow to City. The first, of course, is that she is one of the best centre-forwards in the game, and that is not just because she scores goals. The 27-year-old holds the ball up well, she creates for others and she is an asset defensively, too, whether it is by protecting her own goal at set-pieces with her aerial prowess or leading the press from the front.

Shaw’s multi-dimensional game makes her a nightmare to defend. She is a towering, strong striker who can dominate in physical battles and be a real threat from crosses, which is great in a team that has so many fantastic wingers. Her profile often attracts the attention of more than one defender as well, creating spaces for others to exploit. But Shaw is also fantastic at running in behind to finish one-v-one and, in the often overlooked part of her game, she is incredibly technical, meaning it’s not uncommon to see her create opportunities for herself out of nothing or be a threat from range.

“The most impressive thing for me with Bunny is, you accept she’ll score goals, but it’s the other parts of her game,” Taylor said earlier this season, later picking her out as “a unique player”. “She has good games, she has her poorer games, but she gives everything for the team. She's honest, she helps the team and her goals are so important for us.”

AdvertisementGettyNo natural replacement

Replacing a player with such a rare profile would always be tricky, then, but the other main reason why Shaw’s absence is so significant is because there is not really another senior centre-forward in the City squad. Taylor has a lot of attackers at his disposal, sure, though most of them are wingers and attacking midfielders. Some have experience as a central striker, however it is either not recent or in a small amount.

In fact, the only natural centre-forward City have, aside from Shaw, is Poppy Pritchard, the talented 18-year-old they snapped up on deadline day in January. The England youth international certainly has a lot of quality, but she is very much one for the future and has yet to represent her new club at senior level.

Whoever Taylor counts on to fill Shaw’s shoes, then, it’ll require a bit of adjustment. He might be able to find someone to replace some of her qualities, but not all of them. City are a team who put a lot of emphasis on wing play and crosses because of the great wide players they have and the focal point Shaw is. That’ll have to change a bit as it will not be as effective without the Jamaica international.

GettyThe contenders

So, who are Taylor’s options to lead the line for these last three games? Hemp has played as a centre-forward for England and City in recent times, though there’s no doubt that her best position is out wide. Mary Fowler, the 21-year-old from Australia, is another who has played there in the past, but she is in excellent form since usurping Chloe Kelly for the role on the right of the front three. It doesn’t make much sense to move either of them from positions they are thriving in at the moment. The same goes for Park, who can be a striker but has been performing brilliantly in the attacking midfield role.

With it unlikely that Pritchard is thrown in for her first taste of the WSL right now, there is one other option that is probably the most obvious solution for Taylor. That is a return to the starting XI for Kelly.

Getty ImagesKelly's time

The England winger has been among the substitutes for all of City’s last five games, since Fowler was picked ahead of her for the FA Cup clash with Tottenham. The Australia star has grabbed her opportunity with both hands and shown great form, keeping Kelly on the bench as a result.

However, when Shaw limped off on Sunday, it was Kelly who Taylor turned to to lead the line. It’s a position she is familiar with, especially from her time with Everton, and the coach was happy with how she did in her 45 minutes against West Ham. “[She] came onto the pitch and did really well in that position, put them under a lot of pressure, created some good opportunities,” he said.

To put Kelly in Shaw’s place would not mess with the chemistry and make-up of the team dramatically from recent weeks, leaving Hemp, Fowler and Park in their current roles, while also adding a player to the central role who has pedigree and can be a real threat.