Newcastle Jets Emile Heskey and Adelaide United's Jeronimo Neumann have suffered injuries in the past 24 hours as the long pre-season continues.
The fine line between getting your players up to match fitness and exposing them to the potential threat of injury is something that all football managers are forced to deal with.
This risk has become a reality for two of the A-League-s top strikers in Emile Heskey and Jeronimo Neumann, who have both been taken from the field in the past 24 hours.
The Newcastle Jets marquee man was taken off in the 23rd minute after a heavy tackle in midfield by Melbourne Victory-s Nick Ansell and is now in doubt for the Jets season opener against Sydney FC on October 11.
The former English international needed to be helped from the field by Jets officials as a result of a knee injury in the match being played behind closed doors at Melbourne's AAMI Park.
In what is suppose to be a ‘friendly- clash as the A-League season approaches, the side-s coaches reportedly exchanged words soon after the incident in regards to the dangerous nature of some of the tackles being made.
Soon after the match it was confirmed that Heskey had likely suffered suspected medial ligament damage which could have him on the sidelines for three to four weeks.
Jeronimo Neumann-s mishap happened during training as he was carried from the field and rushed to hospital on Tuesday.
The Argentine forward claimed that he heard a crack in his shoulder as he crashed to the ground and left the Reds' Coopers Stadium with his arm in a sling.
He immediately headed to hospital to get scans which showed that he had a grade one dislocation that had been popped back in.
In positive news the club confirmed there was said to be no structural damage and that while he will be in a sling for the next week they were hopeful it would not keep the 27-year-old out of the club-s pre-season for too long.
Adelaide United kick off their 2013/14 campaign against Perth Glory on October 13.