Kantarovski has been hampered by the problem, which is most common in ballet dancers, for most of the season.

The os trigonum occurs in 15 per cent of people and is a small bone at the back of the ankle which can wedge into the joint preventing the full range of movement.

"I have been struggling with it since I hurt my ankle against Perth [in round two]," Kantarovski said.

"Normally it doesn't worry people, mainly only ballerinas and footy players.

"You can feel it most when you plantor flexion, jump up to make a header or take off.

"I'm seeing a specialist next week and then it is just a matter of working out when the surgery can be done."

Former Newcastle captain Matt Thompson will have a similar procedure on Monday.

Kantarovski faces an eight-week rehabilitation program once the surgery is complete.

"I'll be on crutches for a week or so and then back into cycling and swimming."

He is expected to be named in a Young Socceroos squad to tour Argentina next month, but that now hinges on when he goes under the knife.

It is the second consecutive off-season in which the 18-year-old has needed surgery.

His start to the last A-League campaign was delayed after athroscopic surgery on his knee.

"It was a bit later in the pre-season last time," he said.

The Jets broke for the off-season last Friday and do not regroup until May.

Kantarovski will spend most of his down time at Newcastle University where he is studying psychology.

Meanwhile, Thompson and centre back Nikolai Topor-Stanley were the only Jets in the Professional Footballers Australia team of the season announced yesterday.

Voted on by the players, Thompson featured in a three-man midfield alongside Socceroos regular Jason Culina and Melbourne's Johnny Warren medallist Carlos Hernandez.

Topor-Stanley was the only defender to be named on the Team of the Season's bench.