Shannon MacMillan's torn anterior cruciate ligament, and the prospects of her rapid recovery, have forced April Heinrichs to delay her decision on the U.S. roster for the Women's World Cup this fall.

Heinrichs' announcement of the 20 players, originally slated for Aug. 1, isn't expected until mid-August at the earliest while MacMillan battles back from the knee injury she suffered in mid-May with the San Diego Spirit.

The 28-year-old forward, whose blistering shot and singular talents attacking and playmaking from the right flank provide the Americans a unique dimension, is hopeful that she can persuade Heinrichs that, come Sept. 21, she'll be ready to go.

''Now I'm just working on getting my fitness back, and my [right] knee feels great,'' MacMillan said following a two-hour workout, witnessed by Heinrichs, on the eve of the World Cup Draw. ''I think to tell April, 'Yeah, it's great, it feels good,' is one thing. But for her to come out and see what I went through today is another. I think today was probably a good statement.''

Heinrichs, who also is monitoring teenage forward Heather O'Reilly's recovery from a broken leg and ankle-ligament surgery, is impressed but non-committal.

''Physiologically, if you look at her, she looks good,'' Heinrichs said. ''She doesn't have a limp, she doesn't have a limp when she's running, she doesn't show any overt signs of an ACL tear. But we know that that one-and-a-half-inch ACL holds it all together for her knee, her body, her career and her chance of playing in the World Cup. And you just can't rush an ACL repair.

''She looks good, and we're optimistic, and we're hopeful for her.''

The U.S. coach says ''15 or 16'' roster spots have been set following the Americans' final pre-roster decision match, a 1-0 victory over Brazil July 13 in New Orleans. More than a half-dozen candidates are vying for the final four or five positions, and Heinrichs will be following closely their play in the WUSA or with the U.S. under-21 team at the Nordic Cup.

MacMillan is running – ''straight forward,'' she says, ''no lateral movement, absolutely no rotation'' – and hoping. Is she confident she'll be on Heinrichs' list?

''Uhh … I'm not going to say that,'' she says when asked. ''I'm going to do everything I can. It's going to be close.''

by Soccer America Senior Editor Scott French