The Bathurst ’75-Western soccer graduate injured his left knee during a straight line running drill when training with Sydney FC on July 11.

It is the second time Grant has suffered this type of injury, having torn the ACL on his right knee in 2013.

It means the talented defender has a good idea of what his recovery will involve, even though this time he damaged his meniscus as well.

“It’ll be the same time frame as last time I think. Anywhere between nine to 12 months is the expected ACL return, so we’ll see how it goes,” Grant told @SydneyFC.

“I’ve definitely got a few goals to get back as quick as I can, but you don’t want to push it.​

“It helps, knowing what to expect and you know what you have to go through. I know what’s ahead and it’s just a matter of getting that through your head and getting on with it.”

Grant has played 146 games for the sky blues and played an important role in this season’s A-League grand final victory – his goal sending the match into extra-time.

He is one of the longest-serving members of Sydney FC and is keen to make his return next season rather than sitting out the entire title defence. He can already bare weight on his knee.

“It’s hard to say at the minute, but it’d be really nice if I could try and get back for the end of the season,” Grant said.

“You see players come back a lot quicker than others, last time I was 14 months, but if I could get back within nine months that’d be unreal. I’m not going to push for that because every injury is different, but we’ll see how it plays out.

“I have to come in and do my rehab every day with the physios, so I’m still in and around with the boys.”

Sydney FC will begin its season on October 7 against Melbourne Victory, the side it beat in the grand final penalty shoot-out.