A thigh injury will keep Adelaide United’s in-form left back Cassio out of Friday night’s vital clash with the Melbourne Victory at the Adelaide Oval.
The Brazilian had scans on his injured thigh – sustained in Saturday’s loss to Wellington – on Monday which revealed a slight strain.
Reds’ coach Rini Coolen has decided not to take any risks with his defender with one eye on the upcoming finals series.
The loss of Cassio is a major blow for the Reds, who must beat the Victory if they are to hold on to third spot on the A-League ladder.
“He (Cassio) is out for Friday and we-ll see how he pulls up in the days after and hope he is ok for the finals, but that is what we have wait and to find out,” Coolen said on Monday.
“It’s disappointing that you lose one of your starting eleven players, now we have to look at solutions on how we cover that.”
There’s also some doubt over young utility Osama Malik, who is battling a hamstring injury.
Malik, who ironically replaced Cassio against the Phoenix, is awaiting results of scans on his hamstring, which he has already had trouble with earlier this season while playing for the North Queensland Fury.
