The 28-year-old Socceroos winger injured the knee in training on Thursday and has subsequently undergone an arthroscopy to determine the extent of the damage.

Garcia has been ruled out of Hull's weekend fixture with Birmingham City, but the length of his absence could be far longer.

Hull City have confirmed it is the same knee injury which Garcia sustained in pre-season keeping him out until late October last year.

"It is a blow," Hull boss Iain Dowie said.

"Richard's knee locked in training and it is a problem he has had before. As a result, he's had an arthroscopy this morning (on Thursday) to see how we're going to unlock it."

Dowie added: "He will be a minimum of 10 days. If we have to do something with it, it'll be a lot longer than that."

Garcia last appeared for the Socceroos in last June's 0-0 draw in Qatar which clinched World Cup qualification for Australia.

Elsewhere in Socceroos injury news, Blackburn's Brett Emerton has been cleared off any serious damage and could play this weekend after being replaced at half-time in Rovers' 0-0 draw with Manchester United due to a hamstring strain.