24.07.2014 09:57 h

Socceroo Spiranovic to miss ACL quarters

Australian World Cup defender Matthew Spiranovic needs ankle surgery and will miss the Western Sydney Wanderers AFC Champions League quarter-final against Guangzhou Evergrande next month, his club said on Thursday.

Spiranovic, 26, who played for Australia at this month's World Cup in Brazil, will have an operation on Monday and is expected to miss up to 10 weeks of the club's pre-season, the Wanderers said.

That means the central defender will miss both legs of the Champion's League quarter-final against the Chinese champions at home on August 20 and away on August 27.

The Wanderers, who lost to Brisbane Roar in last season's A-League final, kick off their league season on October 10 against Melbourne Victory.