The Socceroos' Asian Cup hopes have been dealt a huge blow after it was confirmed star midfielder Aaron Mooy will be out for three months with a knee injury.
The Huddersfield Town schemer suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the Terriers' 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the English Premier League last Saturday.
It was hoped that the former Melbourne City and Western Sydney man had sustained only minor damage, but the EPL strugglers confirmed on Wednesday the 28-year-old would be out until at least the end of February.
"I'm gutted to be missing an important time for club and country," Mooy told Huddersfield's official website.