Mark Bridge and Dimitri Petratos are a chance to play in Sunday’s A-League grand final according to Tony Popovic and Mike Mulvey.
Western Sydney and Brisbane say they are prepared to wait as long as it takes before deciding on the fitness of key stars for Sunday’s Hyundai A-League grand final.
Wanderers attacker Mark Bridge and Roar winger Dimitri Petratos are both struggling to make the blockbuster decider as they battle ankle problems.
Brisbane midfielder Liam Miller is also under a cloud after limping off late in the 1-0 semi final win over Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
While Petratos and Miller are considered strong chances to line up at Suncorp Stadium, there remains huge doubt over two-time championship winner Bridge.
The 28-year-old was nowhere to be seen as the rest of the Wanderers squad were put through a tough 90-minute session at Blacktown on Tuesday in front of a couple of hundred fans.
“It’s still 50-50. He’s a very fit boy so it’s not like he’ll need a lot of training sessions to be up for the game,” Wanderers boss Tony Popovic said of Bridge.
“If he can be training with the group for a couple of days at the end of the week then he’s a chance.
“We haven’t ruled him out. We’ll give him every chance to be available because we know what Bridgey can do.
“He deserves every chance to get an opportunity to be in the squad for a grand final and we’ll give him that.”
While Bridge’s talent and experience could be key for the Wanderers, Popovic isn’t exactly short of options on the left-hand side of attack.
Labinot Haliti and Shannon Cole both trained in that position at various times of Tuesday’s session, while young flyer Kwabena Appiah is another option.
“All year we’ve maintained that everyone of these players can play and as you saw from training they all could play,” Popovic declared.
“It’s pleasing for me as a coach and a great headache to have that all the players are ready and whoever goes out on Sunday will give it their best to try and go one better.”
Petratos copped a knock late in Roar’s win over Victory but is making steady progress, with coach Mike Mulvey confident the youngster will be back on the training paddock by the end of the week.
“I think he’s a better chance than there normally would be because his ankle is sore from a kick rather than a twist,” Mulvey told www.footballaustralia.com.au.
“It’s fairly swollen at the moment but we’ve got a fairly easy start to the week.
“Dimi is a really important part of our squad so we’ll give him as much time as possible to get ready but we won’t be taken anyone that’s a passenger into the game.
“I’ll be guided by our medical staff. The message I got this morning was he’ll be back training with us by the latest on Friday.”
The Wanderers allowed fans to watch their session on Tuesday before the players signed autographs and posed for photos with the large throng.
Wanderers fans (estimates at around 10,000) are set to head to Brisbane for the grand final which they hope could help them go one better than last season.
“I don’t know exactly how many will be there but one thing you can guarantee is they will be heard,” Popovic said of the club’s incredible support.
“It’s a special day for them as well and they are going to spend their hard earned money to go to Brisbane and we want to send them home happy.
“They may be worth a goal to us. They certainly helped us across the line in a tough game against Central Coast and that atmosphere was second to none.”
Brisbane Roar will host Western Sydney Wanderers for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League Championship on Sunday 4 May, kicking off at 4pm AEST. Click here to purchase tickets.
Follow all the action of the Grand Final on social media using the hash-tag #ALeagueGF
