Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart says striker Archie Goodwin suffered a hamstring tear in the Reds’ 0-0 draw with Melbourne City on Saturday night.
Goodwin, 20, came into the penultimate round of the regular season level with Adrian Segecic atop the Golden Boot leaderboard, having bagged 13 goals through his debut campaign at the Reds.
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But just half an hour into Adelaide’s Round 28 clash with Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night, Goodwin was forced off the field with a hamstring injury suffered while making a run into the box to meet a cross off the left wing.
Goodwin clutched at his right hamstring as he went to ground, before being replaced by fellow young striker Luka Jovanovic.
“This is a big concern,” said commentator Simon Hill. “Archie Goodwin, whose early career, particularly with the Newcastle Jets, was so stop-start, partly because of injuries.
“It doesn’t look good for Archie Goodwin, currently jointly leading the Golden boot race along with Adrian Segecic and just as he went into full sprint there, he pulled up and that right hand immediately went to that right hamstring.
“An early change for the Reds and a disappointing way to end what has been a quite brilliant first season with the Reds for Archie Goodwin.
“You can see how distraught the young kid is. Those are distressing pictures.”
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“Anguish on the face (of) the poor kid,” added co-commentator Andy Harper. “(He) had a terribly desolate time with a repeat injury, a long-term injury. He was just looking good, banging the goals away, and he’s come a cropper again. It’s unfortunate.”
Goodwin joined Adelaide after an injury-impacted four-season stint at Newcastle Jets but in his first full season uninterrupted by serious injuries, the young forward had made 25 appearances (18 starts) heading into Saturday night’s encounter with City.
Adelaide went on to draw 0-0 with City at AAMI Park. Post-game, head coach Veart said Goodwin had suffered a hamstring tear and, in the unlikely event of his side securing a Finals Series berth, the young striker wouldn’t return to action this season.
“It doesn’t look good, which is unfortunate, for it to happen in the last game of the season” Veart said.
“But when we look back on his season, he’s been tremendous for us… it’s just unfortunate, maybe with the short turnaround from Saturday, to Tuesday, to Saturday, it was just maybe a little bit too much for him at this time of the season.”
“I think he’s got a tear in the hamstring,” he added. “I’d say that, even if we do live another day this season, he won’t take any part again this year.”
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