Injury continues to wreak havoc on Newcastle Jets with confirmation winger Andrew Nabbout is likely to miss a month of action, with coach Mark Jones describing it as a “horrible” injury list.
Speedster Nabbout was forced off early in Sunday’s F3 Derby with the Mariners and coach Mark Jones acknowledged the speedster has damaged ligaments in his left ankle.
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1) Nabbout: ankle
2 ) Kokko: jaw
3) Boogaard: knee
4) Mullen: knee
5) Jackson: ankle
6) Kennedy: achilles
7) Alessi: knee
News of Nabbout’s injury comes just a day after Finnish striker Aleksandr Kokko was forced to undergo an operation on a fractured jaw after a collision with Mariners attacker Josh Bingham.
Newcastle’s squad has been decimated in the opening seven rounds with skipper Nigel Boogaard (knee), Daniel Mullen (knee), Lachlan Jackson (ankle), Ben Kennedy (achilles) and youngster Daniel Alessi (knee) all sidelined for extended periods.
Jets boss Mark Jones was frustrated with his side’s luckless run but insists it’s misfortune not mis-management which has led to the spate of injuries.
“They are not hamstring strains or other soft tissue problems,” Jones told Newcastle Herald.
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“We manage players’ training loads … everything is done properly. If they were avoidable, you would ask questions. How do you avoid a broken jaw?
“It is not a fatigue thing. Nabbout rolled his ankle. The rest have been impact injuries. It is just a horrible run of bad luck.”
With Nabbout sidelined, Chinese attacker Ma Leilei is poised to make his first start for the club after making his debut in a brief substitute appearance against Central Coast.
The winger has slowly built fitness over the past six weeks and Jones believes the former Tianjin Teda midfielder is ready to make an impact against Victory on Saturday afternoon.
“It is Lei Lei’s time. He has waited patiently and deserves an opportunity,” Jones said.
“He can play either side, is very tidy on the ball and is not slow either. Hopefully we get to see the best of him against Melbourne Victory.”
