The Australian adventure has taken a turn for the worse for Norwich City legend Wes Hoolahan, after an incident which left his Newcastle Jets manager furious.

The A-League season hasn't started yet but the Jets have been in FFA Cup action, losing 1-0 at Adelaide United in the quarter-finals, in a game which Hoolahan was forced off through injury.

Now the 37-year-old playmaker is potentially facing up to three months out with an ankle injury, suffering an early setback to his time Down Under.

Jets boss Ernie Merrick was fuming after the game, feeling his goalkeeper had been sent off incorrectly after 10 minutes and that his side had been denied an obvious penalty for handball.

Of Hoolahan's injury, Merrick told Fox Sports: "He got kicked from behind and he twisted his ankle forward — and then he got a free-kick against him.

"It's hard to complain when you lose a game. But these things are very tough to take because I have been in this league a very long time and the refereeing hasn't improved.

"And you (the media) are probably going to get me fined because I know you're going to make the most of what I have just said."

It was only the second competitive appearance of the season for the former Republic of Ireland international, coming to an end in the 49th minute, being helped from the pitch by the Jets' medical staff.

"He won't be available for several weeks into the season," Merrick continued. "He was really kicked hard in his ankle and his foot got lodged and two bones at the bottom, when it splits, it's called syndesmosis - minimum three months injury.

"And then he got a free-kick (against) as well. Everyone can see it was a tackle from behind. How did it possibly get a free-kick as well?"

Newcastle have confirmed Hoolahan is set for a scan to assess the full damage, with the A-League season to start with a trip to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday, October 19.

The Irishman, who scored 54 goals in 352 games for City, had scored on his debut to help the Jets beat lower-level side Edgeworth Eagles 5-1 in the last 16 of the FFA Cup.