Tim Cahill is a doubtful starter for the World Cup in Germany after it was revealed the Everton star's knee injury was worse than first feared.
Scans have revealed that he now faces six weeks on the sideline after sustaining a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after a collision with Birmingham's Damien Johnson in an English Premier League clash on the weekend.
With Australia's first match of the World Cup against Japan on June 12, just over six weeks away, Cahill's participation is in major doubt.
"Tim saw the consultant yesterday and he confirmed our diagnosis that he has suffered a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament," Everton head physio Mick Rathbone told the club's official website.
"That is not the anterior cruciate ligament which is the big one. A lot of people tear this ligament and may not even know about it."
"However he will definitely miss Everton's last two games of the season." "As regards the World Cup he will obviously be a big doubt and will be receiving intensive therapy," he said.
"A partial tear, you would expect the consultant to be talking about a six-week period."
"At this stage and over the next couple of weeks it is a need for intensive physiotherapy."