The Newcastle Jets can confirm that Ronald Vargas has undergone surgery in Brisbane last night, following a broken and dislocated ankle sustained in the club’s Round 3 clash with the Roar.
The incident, which saw the Venezuelan international tangle awkwardly with Matt MacKay in the 58th minute of the fixture, has left the club and the league in shock.
Jets’ boss, Ernie Merrick said the club’s medical team had moved quickly to ensure Ronald would receive the best possible care.
“We actually had one of Brisbane’s best surgeons, Dr Jeremy Bartlett sitting in the stands and he came down straight after the incident to help safely manage Ron’s ankle,” said Merrick.
“In consultation with Dr Neil Halpin, who was already on the phone from Newcastle, Dr Bartlett left the game and operated on Ron immediately and we can’t thank him enough for his efforts.
“This was a terrible accident and we’re all feeling for Ron, but it was no ones fault.”
Following his surgery, it’s expected that Ronald will fly back to Newcastle with teammates today to begin his road to recovery.
“The report from the surgeon has been positive at this stage, but with such a significant injury there are a lot of unknowns – Ron will recuperate and we’ll begin planning his rehabilitation.
“At this stage, we’re really not sure what a timeline for his return looks like, but we’d expect that he’ll be unavailable for most of the season.
Merrick said the coaching staff and the players would be with Ronald through every step of his rehabilitation.
“As you could see yesterday, the players and the staff have been really affected by this injury,” he added.
“He may have only been here for a short time, but Ron has already made an impression on all of us and that speaks to the quality of the guy – we’ll all be there to support him throughout his recovery.
“The outpouring of support from across Newcastle and the wider footballing community has been amazing, we appreciate it and I have not doubt that Ron will feel the same.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the Brisbane Roar medical team and event staff for their assistance; the tireless work of our physio Justin Dougherty, who spent much of the evening with Ron, and Joel Griffiths for his ongoing support last night.”
The club will provide further details on Ronald’s injury once they are known.
