Adelaide United star Ben Garuccio in doubt for AFC Champions League clash against Jiangsu Suning

ADELAIDE United’s AFC Champions League chances could have suffered a setback after defender Ben Garuccio went down clutching his right ankle after a challenge at training on Thursday morning.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — FEBRUARY 05: Ben Garuccio of United in action during the round 18 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United at GIO Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

BEN Garuccio is nursing an ankle injury after a challenge at Adelaide United training yesterday, putting the Reds’ plans of ambushing Chinese super club Jiangsu Suning on ice.

Garuccio, 21, is due to have scans to assess the damage after clattering into Sergio Cirio awkwardly at Elizabeth, with the timing of the mishap throwing a massive scare into the Reds camp before the must-win Champions League clash on Tuesday at Hindmarsh.

Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor will be short on experienced options at left back if Garuccio misses the clash after Tarek Elrich cruelly ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the final away match of the A-League season in a 1-0 loss to Melbourne City.

There are injury concerns surrounding Ben Garuccio.

But Amor does have a good young gun available - Ben Warland - to take Garuccio’s spot if the attacking left back doesn’t bounce back from the injury in time.

Warland, 20, made a super Champions League debut in a makeshift Reds defence last week partnering Michael Marrone as a centre back in Adelaide’s gallant 3-3 draw with Gamba Osaka.

With Taylor Regan and Dylan McGowan expected to return to start as stoppers after serving bans last week, Warland looks to be a good fit as another man who was expelled in Osaka, Riley McGree, had concerns for Garuccio.

“I didn’t see too much of what happened (to Garuccio),” McGree said.

“He kind of went for a tackle and landed awkwardly.”

McGree believes Adelaide can overcome Jiangsu regardless of who is available for selection on Tuesday night.

He is likely to return to his attacking midfield role with Jordan O’Doherty, who scored a cracking goal last week in that role, forced to serve a ban after picking up a second caution in Osaka.

The Chinese giant which was the first Champions League club to qualify for the second round this year had a shaky 1-0 Chinese FA Cup win over bottom second tier club Jiangxi Liansheng on Tuesday before attempting to get off the floor of the Chinese Super League in a home clash against Yanbian Funde tomorrow.

Originally published as Adelaide United star Ben Garuccio in doubt for AFC Champions League clash against Jiangsu Suning