Elrich out for six months

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Ahmad Elrich will miss at least six months of football after scans confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Elrich was forced off the field after only 12 minutes during the Mariners 4-2 defeat of Queensland Roar last Sunday. He will undergo knee reconstuctive surgery next week and return to light training almost immediately on an accelerated rehabilitation program.

Elrich should make a return to the field by early to mid-2009, possibly in time for the Mariners’ AFC Champions League group stage matches.

“Personally, its obviously a devastating blow for me, especially considering how fit I was feeling and how much progress I had made throughout the pre-season and the early part of the Hyundai A-League season,” said Elrich.

“However, its good that I know exactly what Im dealing with as Ive been through this exact procedure before and Ive come back from it.  I know that Ill come back again.”

Published on September 3, 2008