‘Major setback for Mariners as striker undergoes season-ending surgery: “Reflects our season”’

Central Coast Mariners forward Ryan Edmondson is set to undergo surgery following a shoulder injury sustained during his team’s AFC Asian Champions League Elite defeat to Johor Darul Ta’zim on Tuesday night.

Edmondson awkwardly landed on his right shoulder while engaged with a Johor defender in the first half of the Mariners’ 2-1 loss to the Malaysian side, promptly signalling for medical assistance.

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Cradling his right collarbone, Edmondson was helped off the field, his arm supported by his shirt in a makeshift sling.

Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Jackson confirmed that Edmondson would need surgery, and it’s anticipated that last season’s Joe Marston Medallist would be sidelined for the rest of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.

“Ryan has clearly sustained a significant upper-body injury to his shoulder,” said Jackson.

“It appears that he will require surgery, which likely means he’s done for the season. That’s an enormous, enormous loss for us.”

“This has almost become the narrative of our season, all these types of injuries. It’s just one of those situations where he fell and you can’t predict that.”

Jackson has also lost captain Trent Sainsbury and Mikael Doka to injuries sustained during the match against Johor, making it a challenging evening for the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions. The Mariners will next face Kawasaki Frontale away in their final match of the ACL Elite league stage on Tuesday, February 18, before returning to Gosford to resume their Isuzu UTE A-League campaign against Western Sydney Wanderers on February 22.

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Jackson remains hopeful that Sainsbury will recover in time for the clash with the Wanderers after being substituted due to a suspected hamstring injury, but the availability of Doka, who was taken off as a concussion substitute, will depend on medical advice in line with concussion protocols.

“As I mentioned following the game, I’m optimistic that Trent won’t be out for long and will be available for the Western Sydney Wanderers match,” Jackson stated.

“With Doka, we have to adhere to concussion protocols. We’re always cautious with these kinds of injuries, so he’ll be evaluated by the doctor, and if he’s not fit for travel, we’ll follow all the necessary protocols and assess the relevant data.”

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In addition to Edmondson, the Mariners will also be without Brian Kaltak and goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen for the encounter with Kawasaki; Kaltak is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, while Peraic-Cullen received a red card in the first half of the match against Johor.

With the knockout stage of the ACL Elite no longer an option for Central Coast, the upcoming match against Kawasaki will serve as a test of the Mariners’ squad depth as Jackson aims to motivate his players to finish the competition strongly, while also ensuring a robust squad is ready for their return to the Isuzu UTE A-League against the Wanderers in just over a week.

“We need to be cautious about the minutes players are logging, especially with a crucial game against Western Sydney Wanderers ahead – and it’s a quick turnaround,” he noted.

“We’re back on Thursday and then play again on Saturday. It’s a rapid turnaround in that sense, and we have significant aspirations in the league to secure those final positions, so I’ll be managing the team carefully while also ensuring we put out a strong lineup to finish the competition well.”

“We understand we’ll face a challenging opponent in Kawasaki, who have won their last four Champions League matches and are in excellent form, so it’s going to be a tough challenge.

“However, I will be expecting that level of commitment from the players, and it will certainly provide an opportunity for some of them to demonstrate their abilities and vie for a regular spot when we return to the A-League.”