IT’S quickly becoming a curse!

Last week the A-League embraced ‘Star Wars Round’, but it’s a different force that’s really hit the competition this season, with a total of 39 players now out injured.

A plethora of the league’s top players have suffered long-term and mid-term injuries, leaving a number of teams well short as they compete for a spot in the top six.

Newcastle Jets star Roy O’Donovan is the lastest to break down, with the club confirming the striker will miss three months with a Grade 3 groin tear.

“First and foremost, I’m disappointed for Roy,” said Merrick.

“Roy had worked extremely hard to get himself right and our physio, specialist and myself were comfortable with him taking part in the game (against the Glory).

“We were actually taking a cautious approach by having Roy return via the bench – but there was nothing we could do to avoid this one.”

O’Donovan was one of a host of players who picked up knocks in Round 10.

Socceroos star Mark Milligan suffered a hamstring injury in Melbourne Victory’s clash with Adelaide United on Friday night just minutes after producing a brilliant flick-on goal.

Mark Milligan. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Elsewhere, Perth duo Alex Grant and Xavi Torres were forced off and Brisbane’s Eric Bautheac and Nick D’Agostino picked up knocks.

Here’s how every A-League team has fared on the injury front so far.

ADELAIDE

Injury list: Johan Absalonsen (thigh), Tarek Elrich (knee), Taylor Regan (ankle)

Adelaide have copped a few clips of late for some poor defending, especially at set pieces.

That said, they have been dealt a relatively harsh hand with injuries.

While Marco Kurz would have been well prepared for life without Tarek Elrich, given the long-term nature of his injury, losing Taylor Regan to an ankle injury compounded that blow.

The hard-nosed defender was superb in a tough season last year but hasn’t had the chance to do the same this year.

Taylor Regan. (AAP Image/Mark Brake) Source: AAP

Meanwhile, the loss of dynamic playmaker Johan Absalonsen (thigh) has also hurt the Reds, who have struggled to score in his absence.

BRISBANE ROAR

Injury list: Eric Bautheac (hamstring), Michael Theo (gk) (finger), Luke DeVere (knee), Thomas Kristensen (hamstring), Brett Holman (knock - marquee player), Jade North (groin), Shannon Brady (broken foot), Fahid Ben Khalfallah

John Aloisi’s side is starting to right the ship after an ugly start to the season. That said, defensively they haven’t been helped at all by their injury run.

Thomas Kristensen was a revelation as holding midfielder last season but hasn’t been able to fire a shot this year due to a hamstring injury.

Thomas Kristensen. (AAP Image/Jono Searle) Source: AAP

Meanwhile, Luke DeVere — who finally got a decent run at things last year — saw luck turn against him once more in the form of a long-term injury. He’s still sidelined for the next 10 weeks or so.

Add in Michael Theo’s finger injury and minor issues for the likes of Jade North and there’s a lot of defensive composure and experience missing on the park for the Roar.

Meanwhile, Fahid Ben Khalfallah had a disrupted pre-season, then also missed the Roar’s clash with Wellington Phoenix through injury. Then, in that game, star recruit Eric Bautheac injured his hamstring, and looks set to join the long list of absentees.

Aloisi will hope his luck turns sooner, rather than later.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Injury list: Asdrubal (ankle)

The Mariners have escaped largely unscathed so far this season, with their young list reaping the benefits and shooting into top-four contention.

Striker Asdrubal has missed a chunk of games with an ankle complaint, which has hurt the Mariners’ potency in front of goal.

Asdrubal. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

That said, his absence has given Kwabena Appiah the opportunity to lead the line, with the forward doing a solid job of drawing defenders and creating pockets of space for the likes of Daniel De Silva and Connor Pain.

The Mariners’ list doesn’t appear to have a great deal of depth though, so any run of injuries could prove alarming.

MELBOURNE CITY

Injury list: Bruno Fornaroli (ankle - marquee player), Marcelo Carrusca (calf)

City’s biggest injury blow came before the season even started.

Captain and star striker Bruno Fornaroli has missed the entire season so far with his ankle injury — with City’s attack looking less potent without their main man.

Bruno Fornaroli. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Ross McCormack’s signing has helped in this regard, but he’s yet to score from open play — whereas Fornaroli is a master of the craft.

With Tim Cahill also departing, City’s attack could sorely use Fornaroli back.

Meanwhile, off-season recruit Marcelo Carrusca hasn’t been able to show his wares since moving from Adelaide United.

That said, City has still managed to hold onto a top-three spot and could easily catch second-placed Newcastle.

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Injury list: Mark Milligan (hamstring - marquee player), Mitch Austin (knee), James Donachie (quad)

Victory’s injury list is short, but its impact could be huge.

Fans would have winced watching Mark Milligan limp to the sidelines, with the Socceroo’s apparent hamstring injury leaving Kevin Muscat with plenty to think about.

Kevin Muscat. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

There’s also no doubt they’d love to have James Donachie back.

The big centre-back looked set to form a powerful duo alongside Rhys Williams before suffering a nasty quad tear.

Donachie’s injury has opened the door for young gun Thomas Deng to earn valuable minutes as a starter, with Williams rock solid next to his less experienced counterpart.

The Victory also lost winger Mitch Austin for the rest of the season after he suffered an ACL tear. Austin’s pace and work ethic will be missed, especially throughout the club’s busy 2018, which will include a Champions League campaign.

That said, the majority of Victory’s stuttering start to the season can be put down to a combination of form and an inconsistent line-up due to international football, rather than injuries.

NEWCASTLE JETS

Injury list: Jack Duncan (foot), Ronald Vargas (ankle - marquee player), Daniel Georgievski (knee), Roy O’Donovan (groin)

The Jets’ injury run has been a bizarre one. You wouldn’t wish Ronnie Vargas’ horror injury on anyone, and few would have been surprised if Newcastle floundered without its dynamic playmaker. But in Vargas’ absence, Dimi Petratos has thrived on the responsibility of becoming his side’s top creative outlet, turning himself into one of the best midfielders in the league.

Ronald Vargas. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) Source: AAP

That said, it’s still not been all smooth sailing for the Jets. Daniel Georgievski’s absence hurts their run out of defence, while goalkeeper Jack Duncan faces an extended stint on the sidelines.

Roy O’Donovan’s earlier three-to-four week absence saw him come back against Perth, only to suffer a major set back — opt for another three months.

PERTH GLORY

Injury list: Marc Warren (ankle), Joel Chianese (collar bone), Andy Keogh (groin), Adam Taggart (hamstring), Andreu (calf), Scott Neville (groin), Daniel Stynes (hamstring), Alex Grant (hamstring), Xavi Torres (groin)

Undoubtedly the club most affected by injuries, Perth’s woes have completely hampered their ability to play the way they want. A tough early fixture, peppered with big away trips, certainly hasn’t helped.

Things looked bad enough when Adam Taggart (hamstring) and Diego Castro (calf) were sidelined at the same time. But when striker Andy Keogh (groin) joined the pair, it demolished Perth’s firepower. Meanwhile, defensive recruit Scott Neville has also spent time on the sidelines.

Adam Taggart. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) Source: AAP

Under Kenny Lowe, the Glory have always played a high-risk, high-reward style, with the possibility of conceding goals almost always negated by their sheer scoring power.

Against the Mariners in Round 9, the Glory had to play a gritty, highly-defensive style of game — with a lack of options seriously hurting their ability to press forward.

Alex Grant, who alongside Xavi Torres picked up an injury on Saturday, and Shane Lowry were starting to build a solid partnership in the centre of defence — something the Glory will hope to draw upon going forward.

SYDNEY FC

Injury list: Rhyan Grant (knee), Milos Ninkovic (calf - marquee player)

Losing 2016/17 revelation Rhyan Grant to an ACL injury before the season started was a huge blow to Sydney FC.

The right-back’s run, creativity and aggression played a key role in driving the Sky Blues’ attack from defence during their championship.

That said, Luke Wilkshire has done an admirable job of replacing Grant at right-back — and Graham Arnold’s side has hardly missed a beat.

Milos Ninkovic suffered a calf injury during the FFA Cup final and has since missed three games.

While the Sky Blues have been able to win each of their games without Ninkovic — and maintained their spot at the top of the A-League table — there’s no doubt they’d love to get their magical playmaker back fit and firing as soon as possible.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Injury list: Dylan Fox (hamstring), Michael McGlinchey (groin), Roy Krishna (knee)

The Phoenix’s struggles really can’t be put down to injuries at all.

But Wellington has recently lost a couple of key players.

Roy Krishna. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford) Source: AAP

Roy Krishna played through his knee complaint against Melbourne Victory but was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Brisbane Roar.

Meanwhile, Michael McGlinchey picked up a groin injury and also missed the Roar clash.

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Injury list: Jerrad Tyson (gk) (shoulder), Steven Lustica (calf), Jaushua Sotirio (hamstring), Oriol Riera (hamstring - marquee player)

Injuries haven’t hurt the Wanderers to the extent of some of their rivals.

Ultimately, poor form has been at the heart of Western Sydney’s struggles, rather than a significant injury list.

That said, injuries are now starting to come to the fore and could compound the Wanderers’ woes.

Oriole Riera. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Striker Oriol Riera and fellow forward Jaushua Sotirio both missed the weekend’s derby with hamstring injuries, while Steven Lustica (calf) is also on the injury list.

More struggles in attack for a team that’s scored just nine goals in nine games is a genuine worry.