An already-depleted Newcastle could be without two more key players in Sunday's must-win A-League clash with Sydney FC at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The Jets are without suspended stars Joel Griffiths and Mark Milligan for the NSW derby but also have several other injury concerns.
Korean import Jin-Hyung Song is unlikely to play due to an ankle injury suffered in training last week while Tarek Elrich (knee) is rated only a `50-50' chance.
"I don't think Song will play, he's probably a little bit worse than what we first thought," Jets coach Gary van Egmond said on Thursday.
"We'll give him until Saturday but he hasn't trained with the group this week.
"... Tarek hasn't trained with the group as yet and I would say he's more 50-50."
The Jets, who also have minor concerns over captain Jade North (groin) and Jobe Wheelhouse (hib), sit in seventh place and desperately need a win to keep their title defence alive.
Their injury woes mean the club's `Mr Fix It' Matt Thompson will again start up front against a Sydney side led by million-dollar marquee signing John Aloisi.
Thompson, usually a defender, scored in the Jets' 1-1 draw with Queensland last Sunday and van Egmond said he fully deserved to retain the striker role after the busy performance.
"It's due to the fact he has good technique and wonderful attributes that he can go and play in those positions," van Egmond said.
"It's not a fact he goes there just to make the numbers up.
"He goes there because he's extremely effective like we saw last week."
The match looms as a crucial one for both sides, with pre-season title favourites Sydney languishing in sixth spot and without a win in four matches.
"We're in the same boat but it's going to be a very, very important game for both teams," van Egmond said.
"We both know how important three points are."
