JETS defender Jason Hoffman will be available for the season-opener against Adelaide on Sunday week but will miss Newcastle’s next two pre-season friendlies through suspension.
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Hoffman was sent off for kicking Abdelrahman Kuku during Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Western Sydney in Saturday’s trial match at Cessnock, in an incident Newcastle coach Mark Jones said was “not good enough”.
Jets officials were concerned that any suspension might carry into the start of their A-League campaign and were relieved when Football Federation Australia confirmed it applied only to sanctioned friendlies.
The 27-year-old will be able to take his place in Thursday’s intra-club hit-out.
Newcastle had been trying to secure one last trial match against an A-League rival, but plans to take on Melbourne City have been abandoned.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory tackle Bentleigh Greens on Tuesday night with a berth in the FFA Cup semi-finals at stake.
Bentleigh's NPL rivals Green Gully have the chance to make it three Victorian sides in the last four when they take on Canberra Olympic in Tuesday night's other quarter-final.
Olympic are the first ACT-based side to make it through to the quarter-finals but Green Gully will be favoured to join Melbourne City and Sydney FC in the semi-finals when they meet at Deakin Stadium.
Should Bentleigh fail to knock out the FFA Cup holders on Tuesday night, either Green Gully or Olympic will be assured of hosting a semi-final to be hosted on 18 and 26 October.
