Culina sustained a knee injury whilst playing for Gold Coast United in their A-League match against Brisbane Roar yesterday.

The news hardly came as a surprise with Culina having feared the worst when he fronted the media after the Boxing Day win over Brisbane Roar.

"I didn't cop a knock, but twisted (the knee) towards the end there, we'll have to get it looked at by the doctor and the physio, but it doesn't feel too good at the moment," he said.

"For the last two minutes I stuck to the side lines and tried not to run too much, because we couldn't make any more subs.

"I don't know about the Asian Cup match, I'm struggling to walk, I'm just limping around so I'll have to talk to the doctors and physio and see what they come up with, because it doesn't feel too good."

Socceroos head coach Pim Verbeek has added Central Coast Mariners midfielder Heffernan to his squad as a replacement. 

Heffernan made his Socceroos debut against Indonesia in the AFC Asian Cup qualification match in Jakarta earlier this year and was an unused substitute for the match against Kuwait played in Canberra in March. 

"Obviously its a massive honour to be called up, and the squad is full of quality players, so I'll be going in just really keen to show Pim what I can offer and put myself in the best position I can to get some game time," said Heffernan.
 
Should Heffernan see game time at Kuwait SC Stadium it would mark his second Qantas Socceroos cap, after making his international debut in a 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta last January, and was an unused sub in Australia's last AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Canberra in March.
 
"He's been outstanding for us over the last six weeks and it's great for him that he's got the opportunity, but now it's up to him to impress," said Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna.

 Kuwait and Australia currently sit on top of the Group B points table of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qualifying stage and it is vital that the Qantas Socceroos make the most of the second last qualification match.

The Socceroos are scheduled to play Indonesia in Brisbane in their final group match on March 3, 2010.