Edgeworth coach Damian Zane hopes Keanu Moore will be back for the NPL semi-finals after the major blow of losing him for the round of 16 FFA Cup clash with the Newcastle Jets on Wednesday night.
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Moore, who came on in the 69th minute of the 4-1 win over Weston last Saturday, is out of the cup match at Jack McLaughlan Oval because of a groin injury.
"We were just trying to manage it," Zane said.
"But it was either try to push through it and maybe his season goes, or give it a couple of weeks. Now we're in the semis so there's still something for him to play for.
"He's gutted though."
The loss is a blow to the Eagles in what Zane said was the four-time defending premiers biggest ever match.
Moore trialled with the Jets after an impressive 2016 at Edgeworth and before a stint in the Victorian NPL. The fleet-footed midfielder returned midway through this season, just in time for the Eagles' cup run.
"His work-rate and explosiveness is at that level, or close to it, so that's a big out for us," Zane said.
The Eagles suffered another blow when hard-nosed midfielder Dylan Holz was ruled out on Tuesday night at training with a rib cartilage injury.
The Eagles' depth has already been tested this year with the loss of Dom Bizzarri (knee) and Jose Atayde (overseas) and absence of captain Josh Evans (overseas) and top scorer Oliver Smith (suspended). Evans and Smith will be back for the semis.
"A few things that have happened this year I think has created the depth," Zane said. "They've just stepped up and done it."
Edgeworth back up against Lambton Jaffas at Edden Oval in the final round of the NPL on Sunday. The second-placed Eagles are safely in the top four but need Maitland not to beat the Jets Youth to have any chance of taking top spot.