Canberra United striker Meg McLaughlin thought she was going to miss eight weeks with cartilage damage to her knees.
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Then came from the news from Canberra club doctor Wilson Lo she didn't want to hear.
"Especially after the first surgery, there were times they were thinking I would never play again," McLaughlin said. "Wilson was saying you have the knees of a 60-year-old, so that's not very good at 19.
"It was the smallest injury, but everything went wrong with it. Most people are back within eight weeks, and it took me nine months with one knee."
The 20-year-old Young Matildas international is in line for her fifth W-League appearance of the season in Sunday's vital encounter against Sydney FC at Lambert Park.
McLaughlin is on a restricted training load and has to constantly ice both her knees to prevent swelling.
Yet simply getting back on the park is a massive achievement after a battle that started in August last year with damage to her right knee.
"I thought initially it was a bruise from falling on it and that's when it happened, it was a bit of overuse and impact," she said. "I don't even know what happened to the left one, I think it was just a bit of bad luck."
McLaughlin underwent surgery on her right knee in October and to her left knee in January. Despite the sobering advice of her doctors, she always kept faith she would be able to play again.
"It was more the determination and the willpower," she said. "I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I just wanted to play and that was a big factor in getting to where I am."
McLaughlin unexpectedly was thrust into United's starting team for the opening game of the season against the Brisbane Roar when they were down on troops.
If there is a positive to be taken out of it, the time away has given McLaughlin the opportunity to focus on her Bachelor of Commerce studies at ANU.
"My grades were awesome during it. I've never had so much time to study before," she said. "The fitness and stuff I'm still getting there and the quality demanded is a lot higher than local league.
"I think I'm settling in quite well, but it's a constant journey and I'm still not 100 per cent with my knee."
McLaughlin came off the bench in Canberra's scoreless draw with Newcastle last weekend.
Canberra is eighth on the table, but a win against Sydney FC on Sunday will put them back inside the top four.
SUNDAY: W-League: Sydney FC v Canberra United at Lambert Park, Leichhardt, 4pm.
Sydney FC squad: 1. Michelle Betos (gk), 2. Elizabeth Ralston, 4. Sunny Franco, 5. Jasmyne Spencer, 6. Teresa Polias (c), 7. Nicola Bolger, 8. Amy Harrison, 9. Princess Ibini, 11. Natalie Tobin, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Teigen Allen, 17. Kyah Simon, 18. Sham Khamis (gk), 19. Leena Khamis, 20. Lyndsay Kohlet, Hannah Bacon.
Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia Williams, 3. Julia De Angelis, 4. Kendall Fletcher, 5. Jenna McCormick, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 8. Meg McLaughlin, 11. Michelle Heyman, 13. Nicole Begg, 14. Ashleigh Sykes, 15. Emma Checker, 16. Tegan Riding, 17. Veronica Perez, 18. Rebecca Kiting, 20. Melissa Maizels (gk).
