Sydney FC defender Ellie Brush has suffered a major setback in her return to playing having ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament again.

The 33-year old injured her right knee in a clash for the ball in the final minutes of the Sky Blues’ 6-2 win away to Perth Glory last season.

She was expected to return and was on track to do so early this season, however, she has re-injured her knee for a second time during her rehab.

“Obviously I’m shattered because I’d put in eight months of hard work to get to that point and was feeling almost back to my best, so it has been hard to take,” she said.

“I was doing rehabilitation eight months post operation and was going really well when it happened which is unfortunate.”

Brush will take up a role as a development coach and mentor with the A-League Women’s squad while she gets back into her rehabilitation.

“I’m still excited for this season and a different role with the club and watching what the girls can do,” she continued.

“I’ll be helping the girls and the coaches out where I can and will be concentrating on doing bit of opposition analysis as well as one on one coaching.”

Brush will undergo rehab for the next 12 months and hopes to be back for the start of the A-League Women’s 2022-23 season.