Adelaide marquee player Paul Agostino kicks off his football comeback with a performance in a National Youth League friendly at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Agostino, who has spent the past six weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury, will join Adelaide United’s juniors as they tackle a Tasmanian state side in a curtain raiser to the Adelaide-Wellington Hyundai A-League match.
The 33-year-old will also travel with the team to Japan for the Club World Cup. Coach Aurelio Vidmar said the veteran player could still have an impact on this season.
“We hope so. He’s only had a week on the training track this week so we’re probably rushing him a little too quickly in terms of playing in the youth team but he should be able to handle that,” Vidmar said.
“He’s got a fair bit of conditioning in his body, it’s just how he pulls up with the game.”
“We still believe he’s got a lot to offer. But it comes to the point where he’s got to be extremely careful that he doesn’t break down because that would be hard for him.”
United is also closely monitoring the progress of Lucas Pantelis who hurt his knee against Central Coast three weeks ago.
“Lucas is coming along quite well which is a real positive, so the next couple of weeks are going to be really important for him,” Vidmar said.
“He didn’t have to have the operation so he’s coming along quite nicely and I think he’s looking at around about three weeks … starting to get some football time so that’s a really positive sign for him.”
“He’s worked his butt of to get where he is today after the first operation and it was really gutting for him the way the knee went again. He’s a pretty positive kid, so when you get injuries 50 percent of it is the way you prepare yourself psychologically.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide United says its sole focus is on its game against Wellington Phoenix, even though the team has an exciting Club World Cup campaign ahead.
“Not one person has spoken about what’s happening in Japan next week and that’s a real positive sign,” Vidmar said.
“We can’ think too far ahead and there’s a lot of work still to be done in the A-League first.”
“The players have been fantastic in looking into that side of things this year, with so many things happening, and I don’t think it’s any different this time.”
