Around the grounds: Merrick’s plan to combat Hoolahan injury absence

Newcastle Jets boss Ernie Merrick is hopeful of finding a quality attacker as an injury replacement for Irish whiz Wes Hoolahan.

In a major blow for the Hunter club, it was confirmed this week Hoolahan will miss the first half of the 2019/20 Season after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle.

The 37-year-old suffered major ligament and cartilage damage in the Jets’ FFA Cup 2019 Quarter Final loss to Adelaide United last week.

And with Hoolahan set to be sidelined until 2020, Merrick is actively seeking reinforcements.

“We’ve got space in the squad obviously and we’ve got the finance I think, so we’ll certainly be looking at is there someone out there that can fit the bill,” the Jets boss admitted.

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“Because it’s this time of year there’s less money in it. You’re not paying them for 12 months.

“Sometimes someone is disillusioned with where he’s at or comes back from overseas or is not getting a game with an elite club, so sometimes they just pop up.”

Wes Hoolahan

Elsey: ‘This is our Cup’

The chance to help Adelaide United qualify for a fourth FFA Cup Final in six years is an exciting proposition for defender Jordan Elsey.

The Reds travel to Gosford next Wednesday for a clash with Central Coast Mariners with a spot in the 2019 FFA Cup Final on the line.

Adelaide, the defending FFA Cup champions, are the only club to have won the competition on multiple occasions and will qualify for a third consecutive decider with a win over the Mariners.

“This is our cup. This is our cup last year and we take this cup very seriously so we’re looking forward to a tough game,” Elsey told Adelaide’s official website.

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“Central Coast are playing well and they got this far so far so it should be a good game.

“And we’re playing away from home which will be another test, but we’re looking forward to it.”

“It’s always good to get away with the boys and build chemistry off the field which is very important,” Elsey added.

“I feel like we’re a very tight-knit group and we all get along so trips like these are pretty easy, and everyone gets along and also we worked hard so that’s another positive.”

Wanderers teen Adam absorbing all he can

After dominating with Western Sydney Wanderers in the NSW NPL 2, teenage striker Mo Adam hops to transfer that form into the Hyundai A-League.

The 19-year-old Sudan-born attacker has been a breakout star for Markus Babel’s side during their pre-season campaign.

Adam scored in the club’s FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 win over Perth Glory which was his senior debut in the Red and Black.

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“I’ve really enjoyed working with the first team and I am thankful for the opportunity. The boss has been very good with me even though I think I bug him a lot with all the questions I ask,” Adam told the club’s official website.

“He gives me a lot of advice and I really appreciate that. He is a former player and has coached overseas so I want to be a sponge and take in as much as I can.

“JP (Jean-Paul de Marigny) and Labi (Labinot Haliti) have also been very helpful.

“With the quality of players we have in the squad like Pirmin (Schwegler), Kwame (Yeboah), Raddy (Majewski) and Alex (Meier) there’s a lot to learn from them.”

City, Reds split pre-season friendlies

Melbourne City and Adelaide United picked up one win apiece as the clubs were involved in back-to-back pre-season friendlies.

Both matches were played behind-closed-doors at City’s training base on Tuesday.

In the first game which featured both team’s strongest XI’s, it was the Reds that prevailed 2-1 with goals from Al Hassan Toure and Jordan Elsey either side of Jamie Maclaren’s strike for City.

The second clash later that day saw City emerge 5-3 winners as youngster Moudi Najjar (two), Denis Genreau, Lachie Wales and Nathaniel Atkinson all got on the scoresheet, while Kristian Opseth scored twice in his first start for Adelaide.

Both clubs will now switch their focus to nest week’s FFA Cup 2019 Semi Finals, with City travelling to Brisbane to face the Strikers on Tuesday night, while the Reds are in Gosford against Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday.