Cameron Burgess' AFC Asian Cup hopes appear in jeopardy, with fears the Socceroos defender suffered an Achilles injury while playing for Swansea City on Saturday.
Towering central defender Burgess famously played every minute of the gruelling Championship campaign last season. That made for 4140 minutes -- plus stoppage time -- across all 46 league matches.
But this year the defender's season could be over before it really began after Burgess limped off late in Swansea's 1-0 League Cup loss to Birmingham City.
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In the 87th minute, Burgess challenged for a header then landed awkwardly and grabbed at his right lower leg in clear discomfort, with his Birmingham opponents also checking on him.
The 30-year-old, who has 29 Socceroos caps, headed to hospital for scans.
"It doesn't look good, but I prefer to wait for the assessment we will do," said Swansea head coach Vitor Matos. "It could be related to the Achilles, but let's see."
If Burgess has ruptured his Achilles, he faces a significant stint on the sidelines, ending his Asian Cup hopes. Losing Burgess ahead of the confederation championship, set to be held in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5 next year, is a significant blow to Australia's defensive stocks.
The Perth local lost his starting spot to teen sensation Lucas Herrington during the FIFA World Cup, with coach Tony Popovic preferring a back three involving the teenager, Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati. But as a left-footer, Burgess is always a valuable part of Popovic's squad.
Souttar spent more than a year on the sidelines after his own Achilles tear, while wing-back Lewis Miller is on the comeback trail from the same injury, which ruled him out of World Cup contention. Star wing-back Jordan Bos is sidelined until about October after having surgery on the left knee injured in Australia's round-of-32 loss to Egypt.
The Socceroos are next in action for friendlies against Brazil in Townsville on Sept. 25 and Brisbane four days later.