Port Adelaide’s recently unveiled international academy recruit Chen Shaoliang will not play football in 2016 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a training drill this week.
Scans confirmed Chen tore the ACL in his right knee and Port Adelaide on Wednesday morning.
The news comes just days after Port Adelaide announced the Team China captain would play for the club’s Academy team in the SANFL reserves.
“It’s obviously very disappointing for him [Chen] that he won’t play a game this season,” Port Adelaide’s GM of football Chris Davies said.
“He'll have a traditional reconstruction and our job now is to make sure Chen gets through recovery properly and puts himself in the best possible position for next year."
While Chen has been ruled out of the football season, he will still act as Port Adelaide’s Chinese cultural ambassador.
His duties include promoting China at club events and initiatives in 2016 as the Power continues its foray into Australia’s northern neighbour.
“Losing Chen from the Magpies Academy is disappointing, but he will still assist with the club's China engagement program to promote Australian football to the local Chinese community here, and back home in China,” said Port Adelaide’s GM of China, Andrew Hunter.
“Chen loves footy and that passion is something he wants to bring to the Chinese community, whether that’s through his exploits on-field or his work away from it.”
Port Adelaide hosts St Kilda in AFL Opening Round on Easter Sunday, March 27 at 2:50pm (ACDT).
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