Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar said veteran defender Samuel Souprayen has been shut down for the remainder of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, while teenage sensation Lawrence Wong is recovering from a fractured wrist.
Souprayen has made 21 appearances and scored one goal this season but the 36-year-old star has not played since May 5 due to a calf injury as City prepare to take a 3-0 lead into Saturday night’s Semi-Final second leg against Western United.
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On the eve of the AAMI Park showdown with a Grand Final berth on the line, Vidmar revealed Souprayen’s setback, while Socceroo Jimmy Jeggo is also set to miss the rest of the campaign.
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“Well, I can say Sammy won’t be involved anymore,” Vidmar told reporters. “Unfortunately, he just hasn’t responded to that calf injury.
“I think I mentioned last week, he took a couple of steps forward, only to take another step back, and really hasn’t recovered.
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“We re-imaged beginning of the week, and he still has a slight strain there, and it’s just not going to have enough time to get himself up, so we sort of had to, unfortunately, shut him down for the season.”
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It’s the same story for Jeggo, who has not played since December because of an Achilles injury.
“He’s had a lot of issues with his Achilles, and he’s in a much, much better space now,” Vidmar added. “He’s been cleared some weeks back to progress his training and that’s what he’s doing.
“He’ joined in part of training sessions over the last week. He’ll join in today as well, although today is a very light session, and just continued to increase his fitness levels.
“But he’s also one that’s just not going to be available in these last couple of weeks.”
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Meanwhile, Vidmar also revealed young gun Wong is dealing with a fractured wrist sustained while playing City in VPL1 last week.
The 17-year-old has made 15 appearances in his debut season for City, scoring once. He came off the bench against Western United in the opening leg.
However, it remains to be seen whether Wong will be cleared to play in leg two.
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“Unfortunately, Lawrence Wong fractured his wrist in the NPL game last weekend,” Vidmar said. “So he’s had to put a a splint or a cast on his on his arm.
“Then it’s a question about one, is he going to be comfortable with it and and mentally ready for the contact and the potential falls.
“Also, we need clarification from the league and the referees that whatever he wears is going to be okay for a game.”
