Newcastle Jets midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse has suffered an injury in the Hunter club’s final pre-season trial match ahead of the upcoming Hyundai A-League season.
Newcastle Jets midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse has suffered an injury in the Hunter club-s final pre-season trial match ahead of the upcoming Hyundai A-League season. In the match against Bankstown City at Jensen Park last night, the Jets went down 2-1 but it was the injury to Wheelhouse that caught the attention of those who braved the cold in Sydney-s west.
The industrious midfielder gave the Jets the lead in the 9th minute of the game when he volleyed home from 10 yards out after the Lions failed to clear a Fabio Vignaroli free kick. It was a goal deserving of the Jets- dominance in the early stages as they carried on from the fine form they displayed in the second half of last Sunday-s trial against Sydney FC.
In an entertaining first half, the Jets had chances to double their lead through efforts by Jin-Hyung Song and trialist Federico Arias. However, Bankstown restored parity when captain Richard Luksic stole in at the far post from a free kick and headed home the equaliser.
The Jets- efforts to regain the lead were brought to a shuddering halt midway through the second stanza when the sickening challenge on Wheelhouse saw the born and bred Novocastrian stretchered off the field and taken immediately to hospital. The cowardly studs-up challenge could only be seen as blight on the game of football.
Chances then fell to Arias, Peter Haynes, and Matt Thompson as the visitors seemed certain to take the ascendency, but none were able to convert their guild edged chance.
Moments before the final whistle and the Lions took the lead for the first time thanks to a Billy Psandis volley from close range.
Wheelhouse now joins an injury list at the Jets which contains the likes of Ben Kantarovski, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Marko Jesic and Donny De Groot.
The Jets will kick off their campaign proper on Sunday, 9 August when they take on Wellington Phoenix at EnergyAustralia Stadium. Tickets are available from www.proticket.com.auor by calling (02) 4915 2345.
