Monday 4 April 2016 22:12, UK
Joline Johansson’s season-ending injury will not spell the end of Hertfordshire Mavericks’ hopes, vowed Layla Guscoth.
New Zealand international Johansson damaged her knee ligaments during a training session and will play no further part in the 2016 Netball Superleague season.
Mavericks captain Guscoth has expressed sympathy for her stricken team-mate but insists her absence will not derail a promising campaign for the team.
We've got a group of girls ready to step into her position. It's definitely not the end of our campaign.
"For any team to lose a player of her calibre is a shame, but we have a good 15 regardless," Guscoth told Sky Sports. "We've got a group of girls ready to step into her position. It's definitely not the end of our campaign.
"[The injury] was in a training environment. It's one of those things that unfortunately happens in sport. We're all really gutted for her, and we hope she has a speedy recovery.
"On landing, she just went down. Unfortunately scans show she ruptured her cruciate.
"I've seen her a few times and she's the ultimate professional, she's in really good spirits. She's ready to get back on the mend."
Mavericks currently sit second in the Superleague, level on 27 points with first-placed Manchester Thunder who they play on Saturday.
A quick turnaround will then see Mavericks meet Yorkshire Jets, who are bottom of the league without any points, live on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7.30pm on Monday.
Guscoth is excited for both matches, saying: "You get such a buzz from playing top-of-the-table clashes. We're both going into the game with one loss and it'll go down to whoever executes their best.
"Our aim for the season, as it usually is, is to finish in the top four then anything can happen in the play-offs.
"Playing live on Sky is always really great - Yorkshire Jets have had a tough season, putting up good first-half performances but not finishing the job. They're a team that can push us."
Watch Mavericks v Yorkshire Jets live on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7.30pm on Monday.
