New Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic will take a cautious strategy with Socceroos hero Mathew Leckie in his return to A-League motion on Saturday night time towards Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
Leckie and City’s different two members of Australia’s World Cup squad – Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio – had been set to fly to Sydney on Friday, however Vidosic is not going to determine till Saturday on how the trio can be used.
Of the three, the hardworking Leckie had by far the busiest World Cup expertise in Qatar, the place the 31-year-old attacker began in all 4 of the Socceroos’ matches, which had been performed within the house of 11 days.
Overall, Leckie – who scored in Australia’s 1-0 win over Denmark – was on the park in Qatar for 336 minutes.
In distinction, Tilio wasn’t used in any respect by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, whereas Maclaren solely had 52 minutes of motion in three appearances off the bench.
“We can’t afford to push him and risk an injury,” Vidosic stated of Leckie.
“We’ll see how he responds to (training) … and (on Saturday) we’ll have a good chat with him and see how he feels.
“Is he ready to start? Is it better for him to have a warm-up and start? Or is it better to bring him on later in the game – all those little things we will decide (on Saturday).”
Such is City’s depth, they will afford to present Leckie a relaxation if required.
The Melbourne staff is clearly the competitors’s benchmark outfit, having picked up 16 from a attainable 18 factors earlier than the A-League went into recess for the World Cup.
However, that was underneath former coach Patrick Kisnorbo, who has since left to take cost of French membership Troyes.
Vidosic, City’ technical director and beforehand the coach of the membership’s girls’s staff, has taken on the lads’s job in an interim capability however is open to the concept of turning into the male aspect’s everlasting coach.
“This is fantastic for me to come in,” he stated.
“Everyone here is listening, watching training sessions, listening to my pre-match talks … you’re being judged every day.
“If the club is happy, if the players are happy with what we’re doing, that will probably determine how the rest of the season goes and then the future.”
Vidosic, a former Sydney FC assistant coach, predicted a tricky night time towards a Sky Blues aspect determined to keep away from a 3rd successive A-League defeat.
Sydney proper again Rhyan Grant is assured his aspect can bounce again from the successive A-League losses it suffered earlier than the break.
“We’re eager to get back into it, especially after the success of the Socceroos,” Grant stated.
“There’s a buzz around the whole league.”
The Sydney staff can be boosted by the provision of striker Adam Le Fondre and key low season recruit Jack Rodwell, who’s poised to make his first A-League look for the Sky Blues after recovering from a groin damage.
Meanwhile, Western Sydney Wanderers are chasing back-to-back A-League wins on Saturday once they meet Wellington Phoenix in Wollongong.
The Wanderers beat Sydney 1-0 the weekend earlier than the A-League break and have misplaced simply as soon as this season.
Originally revealed as Melbourne City to go away it late earlier than deciding whether or not to make use of Socceroos hero Mathew Leckie towards Sydney FC
