Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell has applauded the attitude of Mile Sterjovski after the marquee signing said he was prepared to play any role for the team in Friday night’s clash with Adelaide.
Despite being played as a midfielder for the Qantas Socceroos, Sterjovski has been signed by the Glory primarily as a striker, replacing the departed Nikita Rukavytsya.
However a hamstring injury to midfielder Wayne Srhoj and a foot injury to right back Scott Neville could conspire to send Sterjovski back to the centre, for back-up midfielder Jamie Coyne may be required to shore up the defence.
Neville’s foot complaint, though, was only minor and the 20-year-old National Youth League product has trained the last two days. But Mitchell was still taking a cautious approach, saying Neville may be used more as a substitute against the Reds.
However, the good news for Perth is that both central defender Andy Todd (back) and right midfielder Adriano Pellegrino (groin) have completed all their training sessions this week and are almost certain to start, the coach adding that Sterjovski’s versatility could pose some problems for Reds’ coach Aurelio Vidmar’s planning.
“I’d like to play Mile up front all the time you know,” Mitchell said when asked whether Eugene Dadi and Branko Jelic may be the starting strikers on Friday night.
“But I had a good chat with him and he’s very much a team player.”
“It’s not all about him scoring goals, it’s about the team winning and that’s what makes him such a great character.”
“He said he’ll play anywhere that he’s told and what a great attitude for a great player.”
Whatever positions the players take, there’s sure to be some spice in this clash after Adelaide beat the Glory in all three matches played last year.
A 2-1 loss last October, while the 1-0 victory in last year’s Boxing Day clash all but finished off Perth’s finals chances.
For Adelaide, striker Lloyd Owusu has been named after making a miraculous recovery from a bout of swine flu that was meant to keep him out until Round 4.
But if Owusu plays, he’ll more than likely be used sparingly as a substitute, while the newly-signed Mark Rudan won’t be available to take on former FC Vaduz team-mate Dadi, as the defender is waiting on a clearance from the Lichtenstein-based club.
