Arsenal legend Ian Wright has been privately funding the rehabilitation of Stoke City player Kayleigh McDonald following her ACL injury, according to reports.
The revelation comes just as former England forward Eni Aluko criticised Wright for "dominating" roles in women's football and potentially blocking opportunities for female pundits.
Wright has reportedly been paying £1,700 monthly for McDonald's treatment over the past four months.
This generous gesture appears to contradict Aluko's recent comments, where she suggested male figures like Wright should be "conscious" of taking up limited space in women's football.
Ian Wright has been accused of blocking opportunities for women in football by Eni Aluko
PA
According to the Telegraph, Wright stepped in after Stoke City initially failed to pay for McDonald's treatment, prompting her to set up a GoFundMe page.
The club later backtracked and offered support, but then reportedly withdrew the funding.
Wright, who had no prior relationship with McDonald, has been covering the £1,700 monthly rehabilitation costs since then.
The 61-year-old pundit has also provided a sports lawyer to advocate for the Stoke City player during her recovery.
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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has been privately funding the rehabilitation of Stoke City player Kayleigh McDonald following her ACL injury
PA
This financial assistance has been ongoing for the last four months while McDonald rehabilitates her injured knee.
McDonald expressed deep gratitude for Wright's support during her difficult recovery period.
"I wouldn't be in a great place mentally if it wasn't for Ian Wright," she told the newspaper.
She added: "I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn't for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn't know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him."
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His financial assistance has enabled McDonald to receive proper treatment that might otherwise have been unavailable to her following the withdrawal of club funding.
Aluko's criticism came during her appearance on Radio Four's Women's Hour where she specifically mentioned Wright.
"I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game," she said.
"There is a limited amount of spaces available. We need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women's game."
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She suggested men like Wright need to be "aware that you're in a growing sport for women, and we haven't always had these opportunities."
Wright's support for women's football extends beyond his assistance to McDonald.
He previously donated £15,000 to a female coaching initiative, enabling 664 women to attend a Level One course.
Eni Aluko has triggered a backlash with her comments on Ian Wright
GettyThe Arsenal legend has also spoken out against online abuse directed at female pundits.
Wright co-hosts a podcast about women's football alongside former England captain Steph Houghton and regularly discusses the women's game with Kelly Cates on the BBC.
Furthermore, Wright maintains a prominent presence across football broadcasting, appearing alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Jill Scott on The Overlap.
