Injured Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak out for three weeks but says he’ll will be fit for World Cup

SOCCCEROOS captain-elect Mile Jedinak insists he’ll be fit and ready for the World Cup, despite suffering an injury for Crystal Palace.

SOCCCEROOS captain-elect Mile Jedinak insists he’ll be fit and ready for the World Cup, despite sending a scare through the national team after getting injured in his last game of the season for Crystal Palace.

Jedinak revealed he expects to be out for up to three weeks with a groin injury, after scans revealed results “as good as I could have hoped for” to allay fears of missing the tournament.

Having limped off in some discomfort in Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday, it means that Jedinak is almost certain to miss the send-off game against South Africa on May 26, but he is confident of being fit for Australia’s campaign in Brazil.

After captaining the side in March’s friendly defeat to Ecuador, Jedinak is widely seen as the heir apparent with Lucas Neill having formally been told he will not be in Ange Postecoglou’s provisional 30-man squad named on Wednesday.

“It’s a little bit sore and it’s going to mean I miss a couple of weeks or so, but I just got the scan results back and honestly the news is probably as good as I could have hoped for,” Jedinak said.

“The doctors say I’m looking at two to three weeks, so I have to concentrate now on doing everything in my power to be ready in that timeframe.

“It came on all of a sudden in the game, just as I went to take off for a header I knew something was wrong. It was more precautionary than anything, there was no point in carrying on, and I’m seriously glad I did come off now.

Jedinak is expected to lead the Socceroos in Brazil.

“I’m definitely coming back to Australia at some point in the next couple of weeks, the club and the national team staff are just working out the details now of exactly what the rehab will be.”

With Postecoglou downplaying the captaincy debate since his appointment last year, Jedinak said he had no indication of whether he would be anointed for the role at the World Cup – though the honour would, he said, be “just wow”.

“I’ve not heard anything, and its 100% a decision for the manager and what he thinks is appropriate,” he said. “If that involves me then of course it would be a huge honour, but it’ll be what’s right for the team.

“When the armband is given to you, the feeling in your head is just wow – you think of the people who have had the honour of captaining the side before, the characters, and it’s a special feeling.”

The Palace skipper was hurt in the final game of the Premier League season.

Jedinak will come into the Socceroos camp on the back of his most impressive season yet, winning widespread praise for his performances as Crystal Palace reversed a free fall towards relegation to such an extent they ultimately finished 11th.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it – even though we didn’t start the best and struggled to find results, just being in that environment and showing what you can do at the highest level was an incredible experience.

“I’m so proud of everyone connected with the club, and I’m proud of the stat that I played every minute of the season right up until that injury on Sunday.

“When the gaffer [Tony Pulis] was appointed, we worked incredibly hard and everything clicked into gear. That sort of form puts you in good stead for the World Cup hopefully, and the challenges we have ahead.”

Originally published as Injured Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak out for three weeks but says he’ll will be fit for World Cup