Brett Out For Up To Nine Months

as seen on au.fourfourtwo.com

Brett Emerton is expected to miss the rest of Australia's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign after scans on his knee revealed a serious cruciate ligament injury.

The 29-year-old midfielder has been ruled out for up to nine months after he twisted his knee whilst playing for Blackburn Rovers at Middlesbrough in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Emerton had to be replaced almost immediately after the incident early in the second-half at the Riverside Stadium but the problem wasn't thought to be too serious at the time.

But results from tests on Emerton's knee on Sunday revealed devastating news for the former Feyenoord man who will need to undergo surgery on his knee.

As a result, Emerton will miss the rest of the English Premier League season as well as the final five matches in Australia's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

It is a bitter blow for the Socceroos, just days out from their crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan in Yokohama. Pim Verbeek names his squad for that match later today.

Blackburn are expected to allow Emerton to return home to Australia to have the surgery on his knee.