Official release from Wellington Phoenix

Lucas Pantelis will have to wait till next season to make his Hyundai A-League debut for the Wellington Phoenix.

An MRI scan on the left knee injury he sustained in the Phoenix' pre-season friendly with Central Coast Mariners has revealed an ACL rupture, along with tears to the cartilage and meniscal.

Phoenix physiotherapist Wayne Roberts said the injury would rule Pantelis out for the whole season.

"We are waiting for a date to be set for surgery and expect that to happen in the next two weeks," Roberts said.

Pantelis, who joined the Phoenix from Adelaide United during pre-season, is still coming to terms with what has happened.

"It is a big blow," Pantelis said. "Not only to me personally but being new to the club you somehow feel you are letting your team-mates down.

"The hardest thing with a long-term injury is accepting what has happened, and I admit I still haven't done that.

"I think my mindset will change once I've had the operation because I will have something to aim at.

"At the moment I'm still gutted but once I can rehabilitate I will be aiming to come back better and stronger next season."