SINGAPORE – The national women’s football team have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Cup, with forward Danelle Tan a “major doubt” for the Nov 23-Dec 5 tournament after undergoing knee surgery.

Tan, 20, missed the opening match of Brisbane Roar’s A-League Women against Canberra United owing to injury and on Nov 7 underwent minor knee surgery that will take her out of action for four to six weeks, according to her club.

The Women’s Cup in Vientiane, Laos, is a newly introduced qualifying tournament for the Asean Women’s Championship, which was formerly known as the AFF Women’s Championship.

Singapore have been drawn in Group A with hosts Laos and Timor-Leste. The top two teams from the two groups advance to the semi-finals, with the finalists and third-placed side earning spots in the Women’s Championship in 2025 alongside Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand.

With the tournament just two weeks away, chances of Tan taking the field for the Lionesses hangs by a thread. In their last outing on July 16, Tan scored a hat-trick as they hammered Macau 9-0 to take her tally for the national team to seven goals in 22 matches.

Noting that the medical procedure is a first for her, Tan said: “There were some loose bodies in my knee, likely cartilage that broke off from my knee joint. It was causing my knee to swell up significantly every time I ran.

“⁠I’ll be working closely with my club physio to get me back playing as soon as possible. I won’t count myself completely out yet, but more of a major doubt.”

In August, Tan signed her first professional contract with the Roar until the end of the 2024-25 season after leaving German side Borussia Dortmund. In Germany, she contributed 16 goals in 27 matches as BVB Frauen won the fifth-division Landesliga in 2024 to earn their third consecutive promotion in three years. They also clinched the regional Kreispokal Cup.

And while her stint Down Under has been hit by a speed bump, Tan is determined to bounce back. She added: “I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure I’m back on the field as quick as possible, both for my country and my club.

“⁠If I do miss the tournament though, I’m confident the team have been working very hard back home in Singapore and will be able to compete.”

When contacted, Lionesses head coach Karim Bencherifa – the Moroccan was appointed in March 2023 – said he would not completely rule Tan out for the tournament.

Bencherifa, 56, who is set to announce his Women’s Cup squad next week, said: “I have been in touch with her and the main objective is her recovery. There is no pressure. She will continue to update me with her recovery plan.

“But in less than two weeks, we will travel (to Laos) and we will need to see how it goes. I can’t categorically say now whether it is a yes or no (on her involvement). The most important thing is that she recovers well.”

With Tan a doubt for the fixtures, her absence would give others an opportunity to step into the forward role. Geylang International duo Farhanah Ruhaizat, 26, and Farah Nurzahirah, 20 – who scored 16 goals in the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League – and Lion City Sailors’ 18-year-old striker Josephine Ang – who has 12 goals for the champions – are possible options, said Bencherifa.

Talks are also underway for the Lionesses to play an international friendly before the tournament. He added: “Every match and training is an opportunity for players to step up and show their worth. We are in the midst of preparation for the tournament and the group is very excited and we are all very much looking forward to it.”