Huge blow for Socceroos as skipper Mat Ryan posts gruesome pics of smashed cheekbone that could keep him out of the Asian Cup
- Mat Ryan in grave doubt to play in Asian Cup for Socceroos
- Captain fractured his cheekbone with club side AZ Alkmaar
- Has been Australia's first choice goalkeeper since 2012 debut
Socceroos captain and first-choice goalkeeper Mat Ryan appears in a race against time to lead Australia at January's Asian Cup in Qatar after suffering a fractured cheekbone.
Dutch club AZ Alkmaar said on Monday that Ryan suffered a head injury at training on Sunday, then had surgery that would sideline him for several weeks.
'Mathew Ryan suffered a head injury during training,' AZ Alkmaar said in a statement on their website.
'The Australian international has since undergone surgery for a fractured cheekbone and will be sidelined for several weeks.'
Ryan, 31, took to X to confirm to his 115,000-plus followers he is already in recovery mode.
![Socceroos captain Mat Ryan is in a race against time to lead Australia's campaign at January's Asian Cup in Qatar after suffering a fractured cheekbone](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/22/78843557-12852331-image-a-18_1702335209641.jpg)
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan is in a race against time to lead Australia's campaign at January's Asian Cup in Qatar after suffering a fractured cheekbone
![The 31-year-old keeper took to social media to show off the gruesome aftermath of the injury, which he suffered in a training mishap](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/23/78845305-12852331-image-a-3_1702336530507.jpg)
The 31-year-old keeper took to social media to show off the gruesome aftermath of the injury, which he suffered in a training mishap
![Ryan needed surgery to fix his smashed cheekbone, leaving coach Graham Arnold with a selection dilemma ahead of the tournament](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/23/78845301-12852331-image-m-5_1702336707303.jpg)
Ryan needed surgery to fix his smashed cheekbone, leaving coach Graham Arnold with a selection dilemma ahead of the tournament
'Eyes on the road ahead ... thanks for the well wishes,' he tweeted.
Ryan's injury leaves coach Graham Arnold with a massive selection headache leading into Australia's first group game against India on January 13.
Australia also play Syria on January 18 and then Uzbekistan five days later.
The shot-stopper is crucial to the Socceroos' hopes of bettering their quarter-final exit in 2019.
Ryan was a part of Australia's 2015 Asian Cup win on home soil under Ange Postecoglou, the only time the Socceroos have won the tournament.
![Dutch club AZ Alkmaar said the 31-year-old suffered a head injury at training on Sunday, then had surgery which would sideline him for several weeks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/22/78844615-12852331-image-a-17_1702335199525.jpg)
Dutch club AZ Alkmaar said the 31-year-old suffered a head injury at training on Sunday, then had surgery which would sideline him for several weeks
The Socceroos squad will be selected later this month and Ryan would be a lock for Arnold's 23 if a chance to play at all.
At best, Ryan would be coming into Qatar underdone after his injury and would need to quickly get up to speed.
But there is no clear standout for who would fill in for Ryan, who has 86 caps, if he isn't fit to play.
Australia does not have a clear second-choice goalkeeper given Ryan's stranglehold over the No.1 jersey in recent years.
![Ryan has been Australia's first choice shot-stopper since his 2012 debut (pictured, playing Argentina at the World Cup last year)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/23/78843531-12852331-Ryan_has_been_Australia_s_first_choice_shot_stopper_since_his_20-a-1_1702336261683.jpg)
Ryan has been Australia's first choice shot-stopper since his 2012 debut (pictured, playing Argentina at the World Cup last year)
![Adelaide United gloveman Joe Gauci is looming as Ryan's replacement in the Middle East](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/23/78844851-12852331-Adelaide_United_gloveman_Joe_Gauci_is_looming_as_Ryan_s_replacem-a-2_1702336261709.jpg)
Adelaide United gloveman Joe Gauci is looming as Ryan's replacement in the Middle East
Mitch Langerak is currently out of the fold after he was contentiously left out of last year's World Cup squad and a recall appears unlikely.
It means Adelaide United shotstopper Joe Gauci looms as the next option given his stellar A-League Men season.
While the 23-year-old is talented, he is inexperienced, with just one international cap to his name.
Sydney FC custodian Andrew Redmayne had been a mainstay in squads under Arnold - but was dropped for recent World Cup qualifiers after a tough run of form at club level.
Tom Glover has had limited game time at club level with Middlesbrough and he and Charlton Athletic's Ashley Maynard-Brewer are yet to debut.
Veteran gloveman Danny Vukovic retired from internationals after the World Cup.
Ryan had been in strong club form, playing all 24 of AZ Alkmaar's games this season, recording 10 clean sheets in the Dutch Eredivisie.