Under-pressure Perth Glory have been dealt a major blow after marquee man Shane Smeltz was ruled out of the New Year’s Eve clash against Newcastle Jets.
Under-pressure Perth Glory have been dealt a major blow after marquee man Shane Smeltz was ruled out of the New Year’s Eve clash against Newcastle Jets.
The striker has been ruled out of the clash at Ausgrid Stadium with a slight groin strain, an injury collected in Glory’s pre-Christmas loss to Central Coast Mariners.
Smeltz is expected to return for Perth’s first game of 2012 against Brisbane Roar on January 4 at nib Stadium.
Defender Josh Mitchell will also miss the Jets game, suspended for one game for the red card he received against the Mariners.
On a positive note, however, club skipper Jacob Burns returns from suspension and Todd Howarth has also recovered from a groin injury.
