Thulani Serero cut a frustrated figure as his comeback match from an ankle problem ended prematurely when he suffered a re-occurrence of the same injury this week.

The Ajax Amsterdam playmaker has endured a difficult pre-season that has seen him spend weeks on the sidelines with an ankle knock, having to watch others excel in his position and putting him down the pecking order in the Netherlands.

Serero thought his injury woes were behind him when he turned out for Jong Ajax, the club's reserve side, in a friendly against Al Rayyan in Qatar.

It was supposed to be an opportunity for him to prove his fitness ahead of the start of the new Dutch league season.

Serero lasted just 30 minutes before limping off with a re- occurrence of the same ankle problem and will now be assessed by the team's medical staff.

Given that he was injured again in an aborted comeback, it is likely they will err on the side of caution, potentially even ruling Serero out of Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Mauritania next month.

And with his future uncertain at Ajax, it is the last thing that Serero needs as he potentially faces difficulty in attracting new suitors. His most recent link away from the club was to PAOK in Greece, though Ajax may only be willing to let him go on loan.

Serero has been a regular with Ajax over the last two campaigns, having overcome initial struggle with form, fitness and injury when he moved from SA.

But Ajax's failure to defend their Dutch crown last season - they were easily usurped into second place in the standings by runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven - has meant considerable changes at the club.