Melbourne City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri is set to be sidelined for an extended period following a calf injury on the training pitch during the week.

An MRI late in the week confirmed the injury which will likely see Barbieri miss eight weeks of action, but she will be re-evaluated throughout the rehabilitation process to confirm her exact timeframe for return.

Currently sitting on 99 A-League Women appearances, the injury comes at an unfortunate time but everyone at the club will behind ‘Bubs’ as she eyes a late-season return.

Barbieri’s injury will see young goalkeeper Charlotte Hrehoresin return to the club on another injury replacement contract after she was named on the bench for the past two fixtures when Sally James was out with a finger injury.