Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has confirmed Ranko Despotovic will start in the Sky Blues clash against reigning champions Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC Head Coach Frank Farina has confirmed Serbian international Ranko Despotovic will start in the Sky Blues clash against reigning champions Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium tomorrow night (kick off 7:45pm).
With 39 year old striker Alessandro Del Piero rested as a precaution following a scan on a tight hamstring, Farina said Sky Blues fans will see Serbian International Ranko Despotovic make his maiden appearance in the first eleven.
“Ranko will start,” said Farina.
“I-m very happy with how he-s been going. He-s still maybe a little bit off in terms of his full fitness for 90 minutes but he-s a good pro and he-s been working really well.
“He came in in reasonably good condition so hopefully we will get an hour plus out of him tomorrow.”
With Pedj Bojic returning from suspension, Ali Abbas will likely relinquish his left back role for something more advanced, with Seb Ryall moving into that spot.
Farina believes the Sky Blues are more than equipped to deal with these rotations.
“I think we-ve got a good squad,” Farina said.
“Everyone-s capable of coming in and doing a job, hence why they-re in the squad.
“We worked the whole preseason in terms of the games that we had with different combinations, playing in their positions and sometimes out of their positions.
“The players coming in, they-re all in good shape so we don-t lose anything fitness wise or in match sharpness so it-s good.”
The Mariners have a new coach in Phil Moss but Farina believes this will have no ill effect on Central Coast-s performance.
“I don-t think it-s ever a good time to get the champions. Especially at home,” he said.
“They-re a good side, they proved it last season and they-re proving it again this year. We-ll go up there and do our best to come away with points.
“Now that they are the champions as well they have a lot of confidence so we-re going to expect a tough game.”
