Newcastle Jets have been dealt a blow with news that Emile Heskey will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
The former Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa striker sustained a medial ligament strain in Tuesday's friendly with the Melbourne Victory and is likely to miss the first three A-League matches of the 2013/14 season.
"That's not what you want to get out of these games, these games are about getting match fitness and starting to work on the way in which you play," said Jets boss Gary van Egmond.
"It's not about flying in and getting people injured."
The Jets kick off their campaign with a trip to Sydney FC on Friday October 11.
