City regain goalscoring star Wilkinson but what does it mean for Rojas & A-Leagues fantasy?

Hannah Wilkinson will return to the Melbourne City squad after overcoming a quad problem, but her injury replacement Maria Jose Rojas will not be lost to the Liberty A-League outfit.

City turned to Chilean star Rojas on a short-term deal until the end of December at the start of the 2022-23 season, with Wilkinson sidelined due to injury.

READ MORE: TUESDAY’S INS AND OUTS

Wilkinson has recovered and returns to City’s squad for Tuesday’s clash against Perth Glory at AAMI Park.

It means Rojas’ injury-replacement contract has come to an end, though the in-form 35-year-old – who has scored four goals in five games – will not be lost to City.

Rojas will depart Melbourne to link up with the Chile national team for a January training camp, however, the former Sydney FC forward will return to train with City before officially re-joining the club in mid-February when American attacker Emina Ekic’s loan ends and she returns to Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Wilkinson, who recorded 14 goals and two assists in a brilliant 2021-22 season, is a welcome inclusion for Tuesday’s match against Glory at AAMI Park.

“We’ll take into consideration today’s session. Wilkinson more than likely will play tomorrow night,” head coach Dario Vidosic told reporters.

“And then with (captain Emma) Checker, we’ll see, because she was sick for quite a while. She’s missed a lot of training in that time.”

Fringe Matildas defender Karly Roestbakken has also been named in the squad and could play her first minutes for City after a lingering foot injury.

Vidosic also planned to take a measured approach to 16-year-old talent Daniela Galic, who scored her first goal against Canberra and has shone in attacking midfield.

“She’s very talented,” Vidosic said.

“Sometimes, I forget she’s 16. I demand a lot from her but that’s what I want, to prepare her for bigger and better things. 

“Because everyone sees her talent and I think we know that her future will be overseas and hopefully at a high level. 

“It’s about looking after her, trying to teach her and letting her learn and play.”

There is also some important information around the City-Glory clash in the Liberty A-League.

Initially listed as a Round 7 contest, City’s visit of Glory will now kick-off Round 8 in A-Leagues fantasy following the postponement of two Liberty A-League fixtures due to the extreme heat policy – Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix and Western United v Newcastle Jets.

Those two postponements left only one match in Round 7. So for fantasy managers, now City v Glory will begin Round 8 and it will runs through to January 2, meaning City play twice.

One head-to-head round will be lost in private leagues in Official A-Leagues fantasy, and the same change applies to tipping.