Date: February 23rd 2010
Author: Grantley Bernard
From: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE Heart is coming to terms with its first serious injury after Kristian Sarkies broke his leg in two places.

Playing for Adelaide United's youth team as a tune-up for tomorrow night's Asian Champions League game against Pohang Steelers, Sarkies broke his fibula and tibia in his right leg in a tackle against Perth Glory on Sunday.

The former Melbourne Victory midfielder is likely to be sidelined for six months, putting him out of action until the early weeks of the new A-League season when Heart will make its debut.

"It's very disappointing for him," Heart football operations manager John Didulica said yesterday.

"He is still coming to us on June 1, so it's the first real challenge for our medical staff and sports science team.

"We're certainly looking at Kristian being an important part of our team and we'll work him to make sure he recovers.

"We're not putting any time frame on his return. We've spoken to Kristian and we've given him our 100 per cent support."

Sarkies, who played in Victory's 2007 championship team, suffered a blood clot when he joined Adelaide in 2008. He was scheduled to have surgery yesterday to have a metal rod inserted into the tibia to help the ankle heal.

Sarkies' injury is a setback for Heart as it continues to assemble its playing squad, especially as there is speculation about signing Dean Heffernan staying in England with League One club Huddersfield.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/kristian-sarkies-injury-enough-to-break-your-heart/story-e6frf9if-1225833240708