Great Britain Alex Danson Battle For Fitness

For the preparation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic, Great Britain Alex Danson, 23, hurt her right ankle during a practice match against New Zealand and scans have revealed she has suffered a grade one ligament strain.

The British team says the injury will take between seven and 10 days to heal with the first match 11 days away.

"This is the best possible outcome for Alex under the circumstances," said a team statement.

"With the first match now 11 days away, Alex will continue treatment here at the training camp in Macau and remain part of the women's hockey squad."

Britain, who beat New Zealand 2-0 in Monday's warm-up game, begin their quest for gold with a Pool A match against defending Olympic champions Germany on 10 August.

Head coach Danny Kerry said being without the services of Danson "would be a bit like losing Wayne Rooney just before a tournament".

He added: "She's our highest outfield goalscorer. She was just running and went over on her ankle."

Kerry also felt compelled to defend the decision to play warm-up matches in Hong Kong just under two weeks before Britain's first match.

"We have to play games," said Kerry. "We can't come here for three and a half weeks and then play the first game (at the Olympics) without playing."

Britain's women won bronze in Barcelona 16 years ago, but despite victories over Germany, Holland and Argentina during their Olympic build-up, Kerry played down suggestions that the current side could emulate the 1992 team.

"Those matches prior to the Games are just smoke and mirrors," he said.

"Teams are holding back, not doing set pieces and not putting their foot on the gas. It's nice to win them but the girls are experienced enough to know they're meaningless until the main event."

FYI - 2008 Beijing Olympic Sports