Subway Socceroos midfielder and FC St. Pauli captain, Jackson Irvine, is set to undergo surgery on his left foot in London on Tuesday, with the operation expected to sideline him for the next few months, his club confirmed in a statement.

This disappointing news means the 32-year-old is likely to miss the remainder of the Bundesliga season, as well as Australia’s crucial FIFA World Cup 2026™ Third Round Qualifiers in June, where they will face Japan in Perth and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

Irvine’s last appearance for the Hamburg-based club came on 12 April against Holstein Kiel, before a stress reaction prevented him from making a return.

After consultations with the club's medical staff and senior officials, as well as with Irvine himself, it was concluded that surgery would be the most appropriate treatment option.

Irvine has earned 78 caps and scored 14 goals for Australia, and was a key figure in last month’s March FIFA Window, netting three times, including a brace against Indonesia and a stunning strike against China PR.