Kyah Simon's Matildas return has been put on ice after the striker suffered a torn ACL while playing for Tottenham in England's Continental Cup.
Simon had been recalled for Australia's friendlies against South Africa and Denmark in London and Viborg on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.
But the Tottenham forward was substituted after a nasty collision during Sunday's 2-1 win over Reading and had to be stretchered off.
Scans confirmed she had torn her ACL, which puts her in a race against time to be fit for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, starting in July.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr urged her teammate to "come back stronger than ever" in an Instagram story.
Tottenham coach Rehanne Skinner tweeted: "So disappointing for any professional footballer to be forced out of the game for any period of time but Kyah Simon is a fighter & we will be right behind her all the way."
Simon was one of four Matildas ruled out of the friendlies this week.
Emily van Egmond (quad strain), Tameka Yallop (ankle) and Clare Wheeler (knee) have also been withdrawn from the squad due to injuries sustained at club level.
Fellow Matilda Ellie Carpenter is still recovering from tearing her ACL in the Champions League final in May.
Forward Remy Siemsen and defenders Emma Checker and Matilda McNamara will replace them in a squad seeking a return to form after back-to-back losses in Australia to Canada last month.
Stockholm-based Siemsen, 22, has earned six caps, Checker (eight caps) has not played for the Matildas this year and Denmark-based McNamara will be looking to earn her debut ahead of next year's home World Cup.
ABC/AAP
