Injury concerns mars weekend squad selections

With two rounds of the Hyundai A-League regular season to play, all clubs are feeling the pinch ahead of Round 20 matches this weekend.

Perth Glory, Sydney FC and the New Zealand Knights have announced changes to their squads, while the Central Coast Mariners welcome the return of scoring machine, and wingback, Dean Heffernan.

The Mariners will however be without fellow striker Adam Kwasnik, after scans revealed a grade one medial ligament tear in his knee. Manager Lawrie McKinna has otherwise named the same team that took the field last weekend to play Melbourne Victory tonight.

Mariners squad is: Wayne O’Sullivan, Paul O’Grady, Noel Spencer, Michael Beauchamp, Andre Gumprecht, Dean Heffernan, Tom Pondeljak, Damien Brown, Stewart Petrie, Andrew Clark, Matthew Osman, Alex Wilkinson, Danny Vukovic (gk), Jamie McMaster, Matthew Trott (gk).

The Glory has named an interim squad, with injury concerns over several players. David Tarka (hamstring), Steve McMahon Jnr (groin) and Ante Kovacevic (calf) have already been ruled out, while Billy Celeski (hip) is an unlikely starter despite the coach being hopeful.

Coach Alan Vest said, “Billy Celeski probably will not be able to play because of a hip problem, he is going to have an injection today so we will have to see how that reacts. David Tarka has pulled up in training again today (Friday) which is a bit of a worry so we will have to get that looked at too.

However, the Glory welcome back vice-captain Simon Colosimo, who returns to the team after serving his one match suspension.

The surprise win overnight by the Queensland Roar, away in Newcastle, has put some pressure on the Glory to perform and remain a contender in the finals race. A win this week would ensure they are alive going into their final round match against the Jets next weekend in Newcastle.

Perth Glory Squad: Petkovic, Colosimo, Harnwell, Miller, Ward, Despotovski, Ishida, Coyne, Young, Fa’arodo, Sekulovski, Jovanic, Caceres, Mori, Hay, Townsend, Micevski (two to be omitted for final match squad).

Sydney FC will be without David Zdrilic for up to four weeks after the striker withdrew from the squad. MRI scans this week revealed a slight tear in his quad muscle. Andrew Packer was selected in the place of Zdrilic.

Sydney FC made the trip to Perth today with the bare minimum 15 players. Coach Pierre Littbarski confirmed today that the depth has been tested with Terry McFlynn out through suspension, Ufuk Talay (knee) and Wade Oostendorp at an Australian U20 camp.

“We have lost Zdrilla (Zdrilic) and with the other players out we will be taking just the 15 players,” Littbarski said. “Normally we would take an extra player in case someone was injured before the match but this is all we have.”

Former Notts County mid-fielder, Ruben Zadkovich, has earned a place in the starting team after he impressed the coach last week. Zadkovich played 15 minutes as a replacement.

“He has been training with us for a while and is very keen to show what he can do,” said Littbarski.

Destiny for Sydney FC is in their own hands, following last night's result the club can finish anywhere between second and sixth. Sydney FC end the regular season next week with a blockbuster clash against minor premier Adelaide United at Aussie Stadium.

Coach Littbarski said, “Our form has not been good since Japan. The first three games (after the break) we had possession but could not score but last week was our worst performance with me at the club.”

“What the other teams are doing is not my worry. If we do our best and worry about what we do then we will be in with a chance.”

Sydney FC squad is: Clint Bolton, Iain Fyfe, Alvin Ceccoli, Mark Rudan, Robbie Middleby, Matthew Bingley, Steve Corica, Sasho Petrovski, David Carney, Andrew Packer, Mark Milligan, Jacob Timpano, Dwight Yorke, Justin Pasfield (gk) and Ruben Zadkovich.

New Zealand Knights will be without John Tambouras and Josh Rose after both failed fitness tests, replaced by Frank van Eijs and Sean Devine.

Knights manager John Adshead said, “Both Frank and Sean have missed the last couple of matches but know their roles well and will have no problem fitting back into the squad.”

Adshead added, “It is not the news we wanted to hear, and certainly not what John and Josh wanted to hear, with both keen to play if they could but we do have good cover in this instance.”

The Knights are yet to finalise their starting squad for the match against Adelaide United in Auckland tomorrow night, instead preferring this morning to name the 15 players who are likely to take the field.

Knights squad is: Glen Moss (gk), Darren Bazeley, Frank van Eijs, Neil Emblen, Zenon Caravella, Cole Tinkler, Jeremy Brockie, Joshua Maguire, Sean Devine, Noah Hickey, Xioabin Zhang, Jeremy Christie, Kris Bright, Sam Jasper, Roy Bell (gk).

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