Queensland Roar have received a mixed bag of news at the selection table, with Charlie Miller, Danny Tiatto and Josh McCloughan all set to return from injury against Sydney FC this weekend at Suncorp Stadium.
However the Roar have been dealt a major blow with the injury-enforced omissions of Young Socceroos Tahj Minniecon (hip) and Luke DeVere (hamstring).
The Brisbane-based club is also sweating on the availability of inform striker Sergio van Dijk, who will have scans on Friday to determine the extent of his cheekbone injury.
Van Dijk trained on Friday morning and coach Frank Farina was confident he would be starting on Saturday night against the Sky Blues.
“He’s got to have x-rays done this morning, but he’s confident that even if there is a small fracture that he will play, but we won’t know anymore until after he gets the scans done,” Farina said.
“If there is a major fracture then he might be in trouble, but as he said, even if it is a slight, small fracture, he’s ready to play.”
Farina admitted that the timing of the injuries, two weeks away from the start of the A-League finals series, was unfortunate, but part and parcel of professional football.
“Sometimes you can be lucky and not pick up many injuries, unfortunately the game on Wednesday we picked up two, which is always disappointing, but that’s why we have got 23 in the squad,” he said.
“You hope that the players that come in will step up.”
Farina said he would stick with inexperienced goalkeeper Griffin McMaster, despite regular custodian Liam Reddy’s return to fitness.
“Griffin had a good game on Wednesday and I thought he had a good game against Central Coast.”
“He made one big mistake, but most probably saved us in the end.”
Miller will start on the bench after recovering from surgery on a double hernia that he underwent four weeks ago.
McCloughan will take DeVere’s place in the Roar’s backline, while Tiatto will resume his usual role as a holding midfielder.
“Having Danny and Josh back tomorrow, that’s two fresh faces and it’s our third game in seven days, so the more fresh faces you have can be of benefit.”
