Jobe Wheelhouse has ruled himself out of Saturday’s game, but says he will be back next week against the Roar.
Captain Jobe Wheelhouse has ruled himself out of Saturday-s clash with Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium.
Wheelhouse injured his knee at training in early December and just falls short of a return this weekend.
“My knee has come along well, I have done two full sessions with the team in the last 48 hours,” Wheelhouse said.
“I would really like to play tomorrow but it is probably a little bit too soon and I will definitely be back for Brisbane.”
Wheelhouse said he needs more time training with the team after being sidelined for more than a month.
“The physio and the coaching staff have left the decision to play to me, I don-t think I have done enough… and I would be pretty silly to jump in after training with the team for just 48 hours.
“I need another week training with the team and to test my knee out; it hasn-t been tested in a tackled and I haven-t knocked a pass over 30 yards yet either.
“It is still a little bit ginger but in the last four to five days it has come along in leaps and bounds.
“I really want to get out there and try and help the team start winning again.
“That is everyone-s priority but I just think it is just a few days too soon this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Dominik Ritter has been ruled out of Saturday’s game due to a hamstring injury and Scott Neville will be assessed and given more time to prove his fitness.
Newcastle Jets 20-man squad: 1. Ben Kennedy (gk), 2. Scott Neville, 3. Tiago Calvano, 4. Josh Mitchell, 7. James Brown, 8. Ruben Zadkovich, 9. Emile Heskey, 10. Bernardo Ribeiro, 11. Connor Chapman, 12. Josh Brillante, 13. Sam Gallaway, 14. Taylor Regan, 15. Craig Goodwin, 17. James Virgili, 18. Jacob Pepper, 19. Michael Bridges, 20. Mark Birighitti, 22. Adam Taggart, 23. Ryan Griffiths, 25. Mitch Cooper.
