PROMISING youngster Robbie Kruse will miss Saturday’s clash with Sydney FC after suffering a sickening facial injury at training this afternoon.

Kruse has a suspected depressed fracture of the left cheekbone after challenging for a high ball during an in-house practice match at Maroochydore and was taken by ambulance to Nambour hospital for x-rays.

The young forward faces at least a month on the sidelines, but more will be known when the x-ray results are communicated to Roar physio Tony Ganter.

Speaking just minutes after Kruse was eased into the ambulance, Ganter said the dazed youngster was injured during a brave challenge for the ball.

“Robbie went up for a high ball with a couple of players and copped an accidental blow to the head.

“After a brief assessment we think he’s displaying the clinical signs of a depressed cheekbone and if that’s confirmed by the x-rays he will then meet with the club doctor and have a consultation with a specialist to see where we go from there,” he said.

“Once the results are in we’ll know more,” Ganter added.

Roar boss Frank Farina said Kruse showed great courage to challenge for the ball the way he did.

"Robbie is an important player for us in terms of where we want to take this club in the coming years. This is a real blow for him and hopefully he'll recover sooner rather than later.

"He's a real competitor and you have to show a lot of courage to compete for every ball at this level of the game. Everyone was concerned for him when it happened and despite it all he still managed to walk to the sideline to wait for the ambulance.

"He's being well looked after and we'll see what the doctors say in the morning," Farina said.

late news.... late news... late news
X-rays at Nambour hospital have confirmed that Kruse has suffered a fractured cheekbone and fractured eye socket. The youngster will be transported to Brisbane tonight with an operation possible upon arrival.