Rudan returns for Sydney FC trip to New Zealand

Sydney FC Club Captain Mark Rudan has recovered from a knee injury and will travel with the defending Hyundai A-League Champions to Auckland tomorrow (Friday) ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Pre Season Cup clash with the New Zealand Knights.

Rudan was ruled out of last weekend’s 2-1 win over the Newcastle Jets after suffering a knee strain the day before the game but returned to training on Monday and will take his place in the 15-man squad.

He replaces teenage defender Wade Oostendorp, in the only change to the side that made it two wins in succession against the Jets.

“Mark has recovered well and has trained strongly all week so he will go (to Auckland),” said Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher. “He missed last weekend so it is good to have him back as he is a strong defender and one of our more experienced players.”

Rudan’s swift return is a relief for the defender, who missed the early rounds of the inaugural A-League season with a hamstring injury only to make a dramatic comeback in the latter stages of the season.

His courageous comeback was capped by scoring the goal that sent Sydney FC into the Grand Final and then he was an integral part of the team that defeated the Central Coast Mariners in the decider to claim the A-League championship.

“I woke up sore last Saturday and my knee didn’t feel the best so I was worried I would be out for a while again,” Rudan said. “Last season was terribly frustrating with the injuries I had and I didn’t want to go through that again.

“We (along with team medical staff) decided that I would pull out of the game (against Newcastle) and rest for a couple of days, which seemed to do the trick. The medical staff had a good look at it and put me through a tough running session on Monday and I pulled up fine.

“I trained with the team on Tuesday and there were no issues so I am right to go. I can’t wait for the game against New Zealand.”

While Rudan has been welcomed back there is still an injury concern over Young Guns Ruben Zadkovich, Jacob Timpano and Jeremy Brockie, who will all miss the trip across the Tasman Sea.

Timpano has started running following his groin surgery while Brockie (knee) and Zadkovich (knee) are still recovering from minor knee strains and are still two weeks away from a return to the pitch.

Dwight Yorke, who returned to training on Monday, is unavailable and will continue an arduous pre season training regime while his Sydney FC team mates are in New Zealand for the round three Pre Season Cup match.

The 15-man squad traveling to Auckland is: Clint Bolton (gk), Iain Fyfe, Alvin Ceccoli, Mark Rudan, Ufuk Talay, Robbie Middleby, David Zdrilic, Steve Corica, Sasho Petrovski, David Carney, Alex Brosque, Terry McFlynn, Mark Milligan, Justin Pasfield (gk) and Nikolai Topor-Stanley.