Kokko joined Newcastle at the start of this season on a two-year contract and is understood to be one of the club’s highest-paid players.

But his stop-start campaign has taken a turn for the worse after a rare appearance in the starting line-up last weekend against Western Sydney. The 29-year-old played 75 minutes – his longest stint this season – in the 2-0 loss, but it was not enough to retain a spot after the return of Andrew Hoole from suspension and Morten Nordstrand (concussion).

He did not travel to Coffs with Newcastle’s 18-man preliminary squad, which will be reduced to 16 before kick-off on Friday night.

Coach Mark Jones has instead preferred towering rookie Harry Sawyer, who debuted in the A-League last week as Kokko’s replacement, and even veteran Labinot Haliti, an unused substitute against the Wanderers who has not played since December 4.

“I was disappointed with his contribution last week,’’ Jones said of Kokko. “He’s not done enough to warrant a spot in the squad. We were hoping for more, but I guess it is what it is now.’’

Asked about Kokko’s future with Newcastle, Jones replied: “I guess we have to wait and see. But it’s one of those ones where if an offer came in [for him], we’d be willing to let him go.’’

Kokko has played in just eight of Newcastle’s 16 games this season, three times in the starting XI, after being hindered by an Achilles injury and broken jaw. He is yet to produce a goal or a goal assist.

He has struggled to make the transition, despite a prolific record in his homeland, where he scored 116 goals for an array of clubs over 12 seasons.

He is likely to slip even further down the pecking order next week when English import Wayne Brown is expected to return from a hip injury.

In contrast to Kokko, Jones was impressed last week with the cameo performance of 20-year-old Sawyer, who has been rewarded with a contract until the end of this season and is in line for a bench position against City.

“Harry did enough to stay in the squad,’’ Jones said. “It’s about what happens week to week.

“If you do enough to be in the starting line-up, then it shows, and if you do enough to be in the squad, similarly, you’ll be rewarded for that.’’

Meanwhile, after signing Dimitri and Kosta Petratos, the Jets have also recruited Australian under-17 representative Mark Moric and are close to sealing a deal with Western Sydney rookie Mario Shabow.