Knee injury ends Kwasnik´s campaign

Central Coast Mariners striker Adam Kwasnik has been ruled out for the rest of the A-League season with a knee injury sustained last week.

With attacking midfielder Tom Rogic having left the Mariners for Celtic earlier this month, Kwasnik’s injury further weakens Graham Arnold’s options in the forward third of the pitch.

In a statement released on Thursday, Central Coast have confirmed Kwasnik will have surgery on Monday.

Kwasnik did not play this season until New Year’s Eve when he started in Central Coast’s 1-0 win over Perth Glory as Arnold looked for a way to cover Rogic’s absence, who was out through suspension.

That appearance was the first of four in a row for the 29-year-old striker thanks to Rogic’s ban and subsequent transfer to Celtic.

Rogic’s departure looked to have opened the door for Kwasnik to cement a position with the A-League leaders heading into the finals but having hurt his knee last week, an MRI scan prompted the Mariners veteran and Central Coast to decide on surgery as the best option.

Kwasnik has played 148 A-League matches with Central Coast and Wellington Phoenix, scoring 36 goals.