Garcia faces long lay-off

Garcia badly damaged knee ligaments during a training session ahead of the team's pre-season tour to China for the Asia Trophy.

Hull manager Phil Brown said the 27-year-old had undergone a series of scans which had revealed the injury to be serious and meant he could be out of action until late October.

"Unfortunately it's bad news and Richard could be out for up to three months," Brown told the Hull Daily Mail.

"As it stands, Richard will be looking at a fairly lengthy lay-off.

"But he's had long term injuries in the past and I know he's strong enough to come back."

The injury is likely to mean Garcia will be ruled out of the Socceroos' friendly against the Republic of Ireland in August and against the Korea Republic a month later.