The Italian playmaker suffered a knee injury in the first half of yesterday's victory over Gold Coast United, and scans today revealed damage to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament as well cartilage damage and a small fracture within his right knee.

The injury comes as a massive blow for the Jets at a time when the club has won three successive matches to catapult the side into fourth spot on the competition ladder.

Club medical staff this afternoon indicated that a full recovery for the influential midfielder is likely to take anywhere up to 12-months.

Ever the professional, 33-year old Vignaroli is philosophical about his impending stint on the sidelines which could potentially end his career.

"One player doesn't make a team" he said through a translator late today. "So Newcastle will go on, hopefully winning as the team has been, unfortunately I'll just have to watch their progress from the grandstand.

"It's unfortunate, but one has to accept that injuries such as this can be a part of professional sport."

He added: "It is very disappointing though, particularly as I would have loved to have helped the team during this time in the season as we move toward the finals."