Kisnorbo has won five caps for Australia

Australia defender Patrick Kisnorbo is set to miss the World Cup after injuring his Achilles tendon playing for Leeds against Millwall on Monday.

The 28-year-old buckled in pain after only six minutes of his side's 2-0 defeat by Leeds' promotion rivals.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds: "I think he's got a severe Achilles tendon injury which will rule him out for the rest of the season.

"The poor lad is probably going to miss out on the World Cup."

Grayson added: "It's the biggest event in anybody's career and the players are obviously disappointed for him.

"He's been an immense character and performer all year," the Leeds boss continued. "He's been a fantastic player for us - he's a warrior and the soldier-type."

Kisnorbo, who has won five Australia caps, had been expected to be named in Pim Verbeek's Socceroos squad for South Africa.

The Australian defender has been a virtual ever-present in the Leeds side since joining from Leicester City in the summer of 2009 but will now miss the run-in to the end of the season with Leeds vying for promotion.

His injury comes a week after former England captain David Beckham was ruled out of the World Cup with a similar injury.

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