Western Sydney Wanderers captain Rhys Williams could miss the remainder of the A-League Men season after scans confirmed the severity of a hamstring injury.
The experienced defender collapsed in agony before being taken off the field on a stretcher in the 78th minute of Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Scans have since confirmed a rupture of Williams’ hamstring tendon, an injury that usually takes at least three months to recover from.
Williams, a veteran of 14 internationals who hadn’t given up hope of forcing his way back into Graham Arnold’s Socceroos plans for the 2022 World Cup, will have to undergo surgery to repair the tendon.
It’s a setback for the ex-Middlesbrough and Melbourne Victory player who has had a long history of injury concerns during his career, which cost him a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The news is the last thing the Wanderers needed as pressure continues to build on coach Carl Robinson.
The Red and Blacks have won just one of their six league matches this season and sit eighth on the ladder.
Western Sydney will sit out this weekend’s action after their game with the Victory at Commbank Stadium was postponed after three positive COVID-19 cases within the Melbourne club’s squad earlier in the week.
© AAP