“She’s played a huge role in dragging this team up and she’s still doing the same today in the meeting room and on the training pitch.

“She’s going to concentrate on her rehab now and we’re going to give her all the support she needs.”

Miedema suffered a knee injury in October that required surgery and kept her sidelined for over three months.

If fit she will likely be included in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2025, where they will face England, France and Wales in the group stage.

City will also be without Jamaica striker Khadija Shaw, who has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, for Sunday’s derby encounter at their home Joie Stadium.

Cushing said German defender Rebecca Knaak and Japan forward Aoba Fujino have returned to training, along with long-term absentees Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, but stressed City “can’t afford” to rush them back.