Shoulder op sidelines Nabbout

WORLD Cup starting striker Andrew Nabbout will have shoulder surgery and faces the prospect of missing January’s Asian Cup during a six-month lay-off.

Nabbout watched Australia’s Peru loss in Sochi yesterday with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder in the draw with Denmark.

Having suffered the same injury with Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds last month, the attacker knew he was in trouble but said the news of the major operation rocked him.

“I’m flying to Melbourne to have surgery on my shoulder. I’ve been told the rehab’s about six months. I think it’s a reconstruction,’’ Nabbout said.

“I was gutted. I knew the fact that I did it a second time, I needed an op, but I wasn’t aware that it was six months of rehab. But that’s football. It is a painful one but hopefully I can make it back in less and be ready for the Asian Cup.

“I contemplated getting surgery after the first one but with the World Cup around the corner, I just rehabbed it and made it as strong as possible.”

Dumped by Melbourne Victory and then a Malaysian second division club, Nabbout, 25, was effusive in his praise of coach Bert van Marwijk, who handed him a Socceroos debut and picked him as his chief striker.

Nabbout’s return of one goal in six games was coupled with some heavy graft in attack and disciplined defensive work, as he was picked ahead of Tomi Juric, Tim Cahill and Jamie Maclaren.

“It’s no secret he believed in me a lot. I’m not naturally a striker, I’m usually a winger,’’ he said. “To be believed in by a coach like that and to continue to work on me is a huge confidence boost.”