Soccer: Knights hit with early injury crisis

It might have been a meaningless pre-season fixture but Paul Nevin's face after his side's 2-1 defeat told a more serious story.

The club carries enough baggage to weigh down the strongest Sherpas and while losing does nothing to convince sceptics the Knights will be no different this season from last, the fact the coach lost a handful of players to injury did nothing to improve his mood.

Noah Hickey was stretchered off with a knee injury, Portuguese striker Dani Rodrigues limped off when he "popped" his hamstring, while skipper Darren Bazeley and striker Sean Devine both soldiered on with ankle injuries.

To compound matters, defender Frank van Eijs was sent off for two bookable offences and will miss Sunday's A-League opener against Newcastle and defender Matt Carbon will be absent with a groin injury.

The worst-case scenario is that Nevin could have only 14 players fit to face Newcastle - and three of those could be goalkeepers.

It is for this reason that Danny Milosevic's predicament is something of a headache for Nevin. Three goalkeepers in a squad of 20 is far from ideal and the Knights boss would love to bring in another much-needed striker to give the squad more balance, particularly after scoring only three goals in six pre-season games.

Milosevic said he didn't want to play second fiddle to newcomer Michael Turnbull, forcing Nevin to bring in a third keeper, Mark Paston, as cover.

But Milosevic still has two years left on his present deal, believed to be worth around $200,000 a season, and is unlikely to move unless he picks up a good deal.

"It's been an awkward one, really," Nevin admitted.

"I didn't want to have to depend on him at some point so brought in a third keeper.

"If there was a possibility to bring in another player, a striker would be priority. I have been talking to Keryn Jordan but I don't know if he would be available. At the moment, I just have to assume the squad I have now is the squad I will have and get on with it."

The outspoken Milosevic, who criticised the club over the sacking of Danny Hay last year, played it with a straight bat this week.

August 31 looms as a significant date because it represents the transfer deadline for European leagues but, while Milosevic said he would love to return to England, it's unsure whether anything is on the horizon.