Mitch Nichols’ Asian Cup dream over, set to miss up to eight weeks with hamstring injury

THE Asian Cup dream of Mitch Nichols is over, with the Perth Glory midfielder set to miss up to eight weeks with a torn hamstring.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 01: Mitch Nichols of the Glory controls the ball during the round four A-League match between Perth Glory and the Newcastle Jets at nib Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

THE Asian Cup dream of Mitch Nichols is over, with the Perth Glory midfielder set to miss up to eight weeks with a torn hamstring.

Nichols came off with tightness in his left hamstring during last week’s 2-0 win over Newcastle.

The 25-year-old flew to Adelaide on Monday in a bid to play in Tuesday’s 1-0 FFA Cup final loss, but it appears the late fitness bid worsened the injury.

Mitch Nichols injured his hamstring during Perth’s win over Newcastle last weekend.

Just last week, Nichols was named in Ange Postecoglou’s preliminary 46-man Socceroos squad.

But with Australia’s Asian Cup beginning on January 9, Nichols is now no chance to play, with a minimum recovery period set at six weeks for his injury.

“It’s frustrating to say the least and I really wanted to be part of the FFA Cup final and help the boys out,” Nichols said.

“However, the medical team has assured me I should be back on my feet soon after the January break.”

The injury blow comes at a bad time for Glory, who face a Football Federation Australia investigation over allegations of salary cap breaches over the past three seasons.

Glory are three points clear on top of the A-League table, and will be back in action on Saturday night when they host the eighth-placed Central Coast Mariners.

Nichols’ injury is set to pave the way for former Jets skipper Ruben Zadkovich to nail down a permanent berth in the starting side.

Originally published as Mitch Nichols’ Asian Cup dream over, set to miss up to eight weeks with hamstring injury