Vukovic fears season write-off after freak injury

Australian goalkeeper Danny Vukovic fears he could be out of action for up to a year after suffering a freak injury at the gym.

Source: Photonews

Vukovic, who plays his club football for Belgian champions Genk, ruptured his Achilles tendon at the gym before training on Wednesday (AEST) and was operated upon immediately with his season likely over only one match into the campaign. 

Surgery was successful but the Socceroos' No 2 is resigned to the fact that he could be forced out of the game for a considerable time.

He will miss out on his dream of playing the the UEFA Champions League and the first phase of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"We were doing plyometrics before training and when it went I knew exactly and straight away what I had done," Vukovic told The World Game from his hospital bed.

"Plyometrics is jump training designed to strengthen the muscles.

"I had surgery which has gone well and I am already on the road to recovery.

"I could be out for up to 12 months but if the Achilles heals well - who knows - I could be back in six months.

"In any case I will miss the group phase of the Champions League and the first part of World Cup qualifying.

"I'm quite devastated actually but life goes on.

"I'll fight hard to get back as soon as possible, that's for sure."

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold thus loses his second-choice goalkeeper behind incumbent shot-stopper Maty Ryan for the qualifiers for Qatar 2022 that kick off in September.

The Socceroos play Kuwait, Nepal, Chinese Taipei and Jordan in the first round of qualifiers and are expected to win through to the next phase.

Arnold and Ryan, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League, already have been in touch with Vukovic.

"They are both gutted for me but they have offered plenty of encouragement," Vukovic said. "So I will treat this as another setback I need to overcome."

Vukovic played a key role in Genk's championship-winning season and his form between the sticks earned him an extension of his contract.

He added another trophy to his collection only 10 days ago when he helped Genk win the Belgian Super Cup with a 3-0 victory over Mechelen.

Vukovic signed for Genk in 2017 immediately after helping Sydney FC land the A-League championship with a penalty shootout win over Melbourne Victory.

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