Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar said Australia international Jimmy Jeggo is facing an extended period on the sidelines while revealing the Isuzu UTE A-League are looking into the some January transfers.
Jeggo and City teammate Andreas Kuen have been ruled out of the New Year’s Eve showdown against two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Tuesday night.
A 15-time Socceroo, Jeggo was a late withdrawal for the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Victory on December 21 and Vidmar said the 32-year-old will be “out for quite a while” due to an Achilles injury.
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“Some bad news but also some good news,” Vidmar told reporters as he provided an update on his squad.
“Those two boys – (Mathew) Leckie and (Marco Tilio) Tills are tracking well. Hopefully having Lecks back within a couple of weeks so that’s a positive. Tilio had a re-scan of his injury and that’s come up really well so we’re able to progress his next stage. He’s still some weeks away anyway.
“Max Caputo is making big headway. He has done a fair bit of running and absolutely zero pain. That’s also two to three weeks if things continue to go well.
“Unfortunately we had the issue with Jimmy Jeggo before the Victory game. He’s going to be out for quite a while with an Achilles injury.
“Andreas (Kuen) will also be missing because he’s had a couple of significant stompings on his foot in the Victory game. He hasn’t been able to train. He hasn’t been able to put on a football boot… by all accounts, he should be fine for the game on Friday against Wellington.”
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It is a mounting injury list for City – who are sixth in the standings after 10 rounds, ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers on goal difference.
Asked if City would be dipping into the transfer market for an injury-replacement player during the January window, Vidmar replied: “Yeah, we’re looking at all options. That’s an ongoing discussion with (Director of football) Michael (Petrillo), (general manager of football operations) Pedj (Radinovic) and also CEO Brad (Rowse).
“The window doesn’t open until the 16th but we’re already trying to get our heads together and seeing what the situation is and what the availability is of trying to bring someone in.”
Read on for all the team news ahead of Central Coast Mariners’ New Year’s Eve clash with Melbourne City.
Tuesday, 7:00pm (AEDT): Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City
Industree Group Stadium – Paramount+
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Central Coast Mariners squad: 1 Adam PAVLESIC, 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Trent SAINSBURY, 5. Noah SMITH, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS, 8. Alfie MCCALMONT, 9. Alou KUOL, 10. Mikael DOKA, 11. Vitor FEIJAO, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harry STEELE, 17. Sabit NGOR, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON, 28. Will WILSON, 33. Nathan PAULL, 35. Arthur DE LIMA, 36. Haine EAMES, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN, 44. Lucas SCICLUNA
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 35. Arthur DE LIMA, 44. Lucas SCICLUNA
Outs: 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI
Unavailable: 23. Miguel DI PIZIO (knee), 26. Bradley TAPP (ACL)
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI (all promoted)
Outs: 30. Andreas KUEN (foot)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (Achilles), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 30. Andreas KUEN (foot), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee)
