NEWCASTLE Jets have suffered a body blow in the lead-up to Sunday's clash with Adelaide at Coopers Stadium, losing Panamanian striker Abdiel Arroyo to a hamstring injury.
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Arroyo broke down at training on Thursday and was sent for scans to determine how long he will spend on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old was omitted from the 17-man squad the Jets named and has been replaced by Kaine Sheppard, who is available for his first game of this campaign after recovering from pre-season toe surgery.
Hopes were high when Newcastle signed Arroyo that he had the pace and strength to be their main strike weapon.
He has shown only glimpses of his class, however, scoring one goal in his first five games.
His absence is likely to mean in-form Angus Thurgate comes into Newcastle's starting line-up, with Sheppard to provide back-up from the bench.
Thurgate has scored two goals and provided an assist to help the Jets win their past two games, against Western United (1-0) and Wanderers (2-0).
The loss of Arroyo has been balanced by a knee injury that has ruled Riley McGree out of Adelaide's team.
McGree is the Reds' leading scorer this season, with six goals in seven games, including a brace in their 2-1 comeback win against the Jets in round three.
McGree, who scored a famous goal for Newcastle in their 2017-18 semi-final win against Melbourne City, left the Jets at the end of that campaign and has since made a habit of scoring against them, scoring four goals in four games against his former teammates.
