Jamie Maclaren injury a blow to Melbourne City and Socceroos

In-form striker Jamie Maclaren has been ruled out of action for several weeks with a hamstring injury.

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren scores against Western United at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne City’s stellar start to the A-League season has been dealt a cruel blow, with in-form Jamie Maclaren suffering a hamstring injury.

Maclaren’s heavy load of three games in seven days, off the back of Socceroos duty, appears to have contributed to the injury, which will rule him out for at least four weeks.

It’s a massive blow for City, who struggled without Maclaren in round one, with the striker scoring all four of their goals this season.

The 26-year-old, who joined City from Scottish club Hibernian in January, scored the decisive 85th-minute winner away to Western United on Sunday, taking his season tally to 10 goals in seven games, in addition to the four goals he scored for the Socceroos in their recent World Cup qualifying matches.

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It is believed that Maclaren felt tightness late in the match, but persisted believing it was cramp, although scans on Monday confirmed the worst.

“Gutted to learn after scan results this morning I have a small tear in my hamstring! I will be doing everything I can to be back ASAP,” Maclaren wrote on Instagram on Monday.

Maclaren’s injury is also a blow to Australia coach Graham Arnold, given that he has also lost Melbourne Victory striker Andrew Nabbout to a hamstring injury.

Nabbout scored his first A-League goal of the season against Brisbane Roar on Friday night but was ruled out of the game after just 33 minutes when he went down holding his hamstring.

“He has undertaken scans and at this stage we expect Andrew to miss several weeks,” Victory general manager of football operations, Paul Timboli, said.

“We’ll manage his recovery now week-by-week – keeping in mind the length of the season – to ensure he is 100 per cent fit when he returns to the pitch.”

The Socceroos have another World Cup qualifier coming up against Jordan in Amman on November 15, with Adam Taggart shaping as the striker to benefit from Maclaren’s absence.

Taggart has been a revelation in South Korea, scoring 19 goals across all competitions for K League outfit Suwon Bluewings. He also scored a brace for Australia against Taiwan.

The injuries could also open the door for Apostolos Giannou to earn some game time, while Arnold could be tempted to bring Daniel Arzani and Chris Ikonomidis back into the fold as wide players.

Tom Rogic is likely to return after missing the last international window.

HERALD SUN/AAP