A recent hamstring injury to Tim Cahill will not keep the star Socceroo out the World Cup according to New York Red Bulls manager Mike Petke.
The 34-year-old Cahill was forced from the pitch during New York’s match against Chivas USA last weekend, sparking initial reports suggesting Cahill could have torn the hamstring.
Despite the potentially devastating news, the already injury depleted and out of form Socceroos can breathe a sigh of relief with Cahill now expected to be right to hit the track again in a couple of weeks.
“What we’re looking at is a mild hamstring strain,” Petke told NY Red Bulls’ official website.
“I could say that I hope to have him back in two weeks, but for now, it looks like he will be out next weekend with a hamstring strain.
“From the conversations I’ve had with our medical department, it is not a tear.
“It’s definitely a strain and with Tim we all know, you say he’ll be back in three weeks, he’ll be back in a week and a half, you say he’ll be back in six weeks, he’ll be back in four.”
Cahill himself confirmed the news via Twitter.
Found out that I will be out for 2-3 weeks with Hamstring problem. @NewYorkRedBulls #Socceroos Working with the best to get fit asap. #RBNY
— Tim Cahill (@Tim_Cahill) April 1, 2014
Cahill’s injury was just the latest bout of bad news amidst a torrid run of injuries.
The Socceroos lost emerging star Robbie Kruse earlier this year to an ACL while defender Rhys Williams recently tore his Achilles playing for Middlesbrough. Both are highly unlikely to make it to Brazil.
Another defender, Curtis Good, is roughly 3-4 weeks away from a return to Dundee United (on loan from Premier League side Newcastle) after suffering a hip flexor injury in a recent 4-3 friendly loss to Ecuador in London.
Unlikely to get a game in new coach Ange Postecoglou’s side, former star Harry Kewell announced his impending retirement from football last week after recording a career that will go down as one of Australia’s greatest on the international stage.
The Socceroos have two upcoming friendly hit-outs- at home against South Africa in late May and another against Croatia in Brazil.
Australia will begin its World Cup draw against Chile on June 14.
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