PASCOE Vale is resigned to playing the remainder of the National Premier League season without striker Luca Santilli as he recovers from surgery on a broken wrist.

Santilli fell awkwardly on his wrist after being concussed in a midair collision which ended Pascoe Vale’s Round 18 clash with Ballarat Red Devils after 67 minutes.

Pascoe Vale coach Vitale Ferrante said Santilli had been ruled out for the rest of 2014.

“It’s directly associated with that incident, he’s had to have surgery on the wrist and tendon work,” Santilli said.

“He’s still in a cast.

“It hit us a little bit, especially losing Davey (Van’t Schip) the week before.

“We lost Davey on the last day of the (transfer) window because he was going back to Holland.

“He had to go back to Holland for university.”

Santilli’s shoes have been filled by mid-season signing Jake Nakic, who joined the club from Dandenong Thunder on the final day of the transfer window.

“We’ve signed him hopefully for the long-term future,” he said.

“He’s actually been good, he’s scored three goals for us in five or six appearances.”

The club has been hit by a series of injuries and suspensions in recent weeks, with No. 1 keeper Stefaan Sardelic red-carded on his return from a leg injury.

Ferrante said he was excited by the progress shown by 17-year-old custodian Yarrein Sozer in Sardelic’s absence.

“I’ve been so rapt with him, I’ve got a lot of time for Yarrein and high hopes for him,” he said.

“I think he’s a great talent and he got thrown in during the Ballarat game.

“I couldn’t have been happier, not many 17-year-olds have played senior football at the highest level anywhere.

“He’s held himself pretty well.”

Pascoe Vale is destined to finish mid-table, with games around Port Melbourne Sharks and Green Gully to round out its campaign.

Ferrante said his side could build momentum toward 2015 in its remaining matches, adding some individuals still had plenty to prove.

“Players are playing for their spot in the team moving forward, that’s one of the things,” he said.