Luckless Parramatta’s NRL campaign has continued with young five-eighth Luke Kelly set to miss up to six weeks with a fractured eye socket.
Kelly has impressed since his mid-season switch to the Eels from Melbourne and set up both of his side’s tries in the 32-12 loss to Canterbury on Friday.
The 22-year-old, who played the full 80 minutes against the Bulldogs, will do well to play again this year.
Stephen Kearney’s cellar-dwellers are out of finals contention, with just seven rounds remaining of a miserable season that’s featured just three wins from their 14 games.
However, on a positive note, Kelly won’t require surgery.
Fullback Jarryd Hayne has also been ruled out of an early return to action against ladder-leading Melbourne at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
Hayne sustained a foot injury in the State of Origin decider earlier this month.