Luckless Sainsbury was forced off with a rolled ankle in the 30th minute of PEC Zwolle's first game of the Eredivisie season on Saturday (AEST) as it overcame Adam Sarota and Tommy Oar's FC Utrecht 2-0.

Great start to new season, 2-0 win. Ankle swollen and sore but hoping it will be fine with some rest, ice and tlc. @PECZwolle #optimistic — Trent Sainsbury (@Tsainsbury92) August 8, 2014

It was during his debut against the same opposition last February that Sainsbury fractured his knee cap in a freak accident with a sprinkler and was rubbed out for five months as his 2014 FIFA World Cup hopes evaporated.

Strongly in calculations for Australia's duel with FIFA World Cup quarter-finalist Belgium on 5 September (AEST), Sainsbury is hoping to be fit again as early as next weekend for the league visit to Dordrecht.

"I think I have officially retired from playing against Utrecht after the two injuries - my body can't handle it anymore," quipped Sainsbury, who has been limited to just two Eredivisie starts thus far.

"I've got a fat lady's ankle right now but it's going down by the day and I will have a scan on Monday to see what's going on.

"The best case scenario is that I will be ok for next weekend, or worst case maybe out for a couple of weeks. It doesn't feel that bad but the scans will determine what the situation is."

“@thijshorst1: @Tsainsbury92 How is your anckle? Ready to play again soon or not?” Scans tomorrow but feeling better with each passing day. — Trent Sainsbury (@Tsainsbury92) August 10, 2014

Sainsbury is eyeing off the Belgium clash as a chance to impress Ange Postecoglou - should he get the nod.

"It would be awesome to get my first taste of international football just across the border from where I am playing," he said.

"I would be really chuffed but at the same time I have to keep playing to come into consideration."

The injury setback came just a week after the 22 year-old picked up his first silverware for the ambitious outfit as it followed up its KNVB Cup triumph last season by upsetting champion Ajax 1-0 to take the Johan Cruyff Shield.

"In the first couple of minutes against Utrecht of their strikers had a poor touch and I nipped in and got ahead of him and he planted his size 15 boot into my shin and made me roll my ankle," Sainsburysaid.

"I got a rush of heat to the ankle and my boot started swelling. I went on as long as I could but after 30 minutes I had to pull the plug."

With coach Ron Jans an ardent Sainsbury fan, it's likely he will be reinstalled into the first team at the earliest opportunity, thus enhancing his chances of gaining his first Socceroos cap next month.

“The coach told me a couple of weeks back that he was pleased with how far I have come, especially with my knee injury. He didn’t expect me to be fit this soon, and he has shown lot of faith in me," Sainsbury said.

"I believe I have as a good a chance as anybody of being called up (for Australia) because I am playing in the Dutch league. It's all up to Ange. He picks the team and it's his preference.

"I can only improve here in Holland and I feel comfortable at this level. I will get better and better with each game I play.

"It was important for me to get my confidence up in the pre-season coming back from my knee injury.

"We beat Hannover 96 and PAOK (as well as Ajax) and playing in those games was a boost for me.

"We are not a big club but we have big ambitions. We have a great coach and this club is on the up.”

Though it hurt him to be ruled out of Brazil, Sainsbury turned into a fan as he watched Australia from afar at the World Cup and is itching to be involved in January's 2015 AFC Asian Cup on home soil.

"That would be great but first and foremost I must hold down my spot at club level," he said.