Sydney FC’s premiership ambitions are under threat from injuries to strikers John Aloisi and Mark Bridge.
Aloisi injured himself in the Sky Blues’ gutsy come-from-behind 3-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday while Bridge could be sidelined for the rest of the season after damaging a toe tendon at training on Friday.
Aloisi, who scored Sydney’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time against the Jets, slumped to the ground clutching his left hamstring in the 76th minute of the hard-fought F3 derby with the Jets.
He was replaced by Christopher Payne, who later scored his debut A-League goal to seal the victory for the Sky Blues.
Meanwhile, Bridge complained of a persistent pain in the big toe of his right foot and an initial diagnosis determined he has some tendon damage.
Initial scans revealed the injury to be more serious than first thought and he will have more tests on Monday to determine the extent of the complaint.
However, at this stage it appears the talented striker may not line up for Sydney again in this campaign.
Understandably coach Vitezslav Lavicka was keen to learn more about the injury suffered by Aloisi who will also have tests on Monday.
“It is hard to say (how bad Aloisi’s injury is) because it just after the game – we will see tomorrow but it more cramp than a tear but we will see,” Lavicka said immediately after the match.
“We have troubles at this moment in attack because we lost Bridgey (Mark Bridge) this week, possibly for a long time and we still have some big games before us.”
“But we will see tomorrow.”
Lavicka also laughed off suggestion he should chase out-of-sorts Fury striker Robbie Fowler as an injury replacement for the rest of the season.
“It is hard to answer that now, but we will see what happens tomorrow, but we will see what can organise,” he said.
However, Sydney’s 3-1 win over Newcastle was a happy homecoming for former Newcastle local Stuart Musialik whose powerful 30-metre goal just four minutes into the second half gave the Sky Blues their winning advantage.
“It was good to play on EnergyAustralia Stadium again. I have always enjoyed playing at this stadium and it brought back some special memories for me,” Musialik said after the match.
And he admitted it was particularly nice to get the winning goal against his old club.
“I was actually thinking about taking a touch at the start but I got a good roll of the ball and I thought I may as well hit it,” he said of his scintillating goal.
“I actually heard Johnny (Aloisi) yelling, ‘no’, as I was about to hit it, but I hit it anyway … I don’t score often so it was good to score no matter who it was against.”
“I have been doing some extra work with Tony Popovic and I can strike them alright at training but in a game I usually send them into Row Z, so it was good to strike one in a game.”
And asked what Aloisi said after the ball went in, Musialik accurately captured the about-face from the veteran striker.
“Yes!” laughed Musalik.
