A major blow for the Australian women's hockey team with Jade Warrender out of the Olympics, after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament at training in Perth this week.
It is the second time the NSW defender has suffered this injury and she will undergo reconstructive surgery next week.
Warrender is expected to be out for 9-12 months with the Junior World Cup in 2013 her most immediate goal.
Hockeyroos Coach Adam Commens said it was a huge blow, with Warrender a front runner for Olympic selection, after performing strongly at a series against the USA on the Sunshine Coast and in a Four Nations test event in New Zealand, earlier this year.
"At only 19 years of age Jade has a long career ahead of her for the Hockeyroos and after rehabilitation we expect to see her back to her best," he said.
"We have a squad of 27 and that is justified when something like this happens."
While devastating for Warrender, this now opens up a back-line position and Jacklyn McRae, Jayde Taylor and Kate Jenner are likely to press for selection in defense.
Warrender is the second Australian hockey player to suffer an acl injury this month, after Kookaburras star defender Graeme Begbie was also ruled out of the Games, at a test event in London last week, after going down in a practice match against India.
Source: Hockey Australia Media Release
