He will certainly miss the start of the Premier League campaign when West Ham United face Manchester City on Saturday.

But the next question for Socceroo fans is whether he will be fit for his country.

Australia face Argentina in Melbourne on September 11 and there are now serious question marks surrounding Neill’s participation in that game.

According to reports in today’s English press, the new West Ham captain injured medial knee ligaments in training and hobbled away from the ground wearing a knee brace.

And it appears a month’s rest is the order of the day for the former Blackburn Rovers man.

If confirmed, it is a further injury blow for a player who was sidelined for a month only two games into his Hammers’ career back in January.

He recovered in time to help his new club successfully battle the drop into the Championship.

Neill’s absence is a further blow for West Ham manager Alan Curbishley.

The Hammers are already without summer signings Scott Parker and Julien Faubert as they prepare to kick off the season at home to City on Saturday.