MELBOURNE has suffered a major injury blow with midfielder Jack Viney to miss at least four weeks after scans revealed he had a small fracture of his right fibula.
He hurt the leg late in the loss to Greater Western Sydney on Saturday with scans revealing the extent of the injury.
Melbourne's football manager Josh Mahoney told the club's website the 21-year-old did not require surgery.
"This injury does not require surgery, it will be treated symptomatically and once the bone has healed he will return to play," Mahoney said.
"Jack is a very professional player and he will do everything possible to return from this injury as quick as possible."
Teammate Daniel Cross suffered a similar injury last year and missed four weeks.
Viney has played 35 games since joining the club as a father-son recruit and began the season in excellent form.