TOMI Sova could be out of action for the Newcastle Jesters until next year after suffering a knee injury in last night's game against Nottingham Panthers.

The problem may be a recurrence of an old injury and coach Jukka Jalonen said: "It seems to be pretty bad."

Sova's problem is yet another blow to the side, which is already missing Craig Binns through injury and Rob Wilson and Louis Bedard who are home with sick relatives. However, Bedard is expected back on Tyneside next Wednesday, in time for the Cardiff Devils game the following night, and Jalonen today revealed Wilson may return in time for the Benson and Hedges Cup final.

"There is a small chance he could play in that game," he said.

On the Sova injury, he said it could be a couple of days before the full length of his absence is known.

"It's difficult to say if it's three or four weeks, or longer. He couldn't walk and he has had something like that before," he said, adding the injury may be Sova's ligaments.

Jalonen added the club was talking to two defencemen, one an ex-NHL man, the other from the Finnish Elite League, and he hoped an announcement would be made soon. But, he said there would be only one signing, but denied the former NHL man was Swede Robert Nordmark, who signed for Nottingham today.

Nordmark has played for his country over 50 times at the highest level, and iced in over 230 games in the NHL with Vancouver Canucks and St Louis Blues.

The Finn is likely to come to the club on loan.