Perth Glory midfielder Travis Dodd will miss the next four matches after scans confirmed he suffered a hamstring tear during Saturday night’s 1-0 loss to Sydney FC.
Perth Glory midfielder Travis Dodd will miss the next four matches after scans confirmed he suffered a hamstring tear during Saturday night’s 1-0 loss to Sydney FC.
Former Adelaide skipper Dodd had been demoted to the bench after several underwhelming performances for the club.
But the 31-year-old responded in fine style by producing one of the best displays as a substitute in many a year when he and Mile Sterjovski, who was also making his first appearance for Glory this season, were introduced in the 55th minute.
Dodd and Sterjovski’s inclusion proved the catalyst for an explosive 35 minutes from the Glory, who produced eight clear-cut chances to score an equaliser, after the Perth side had fallen behind to a Mark Bridge goal on the stroke of half-time.
Dodd’s desire was evident in just his second minute on the pitch as he ran 35 metres to retrieve a loose ball and deliver a cross that almost saw Chris Coyne score.
However, Dodd’s gut-busting runs eventually proved his undoing as he injured his hamstring during the 85th minute and had to be substituted off as his side failed to nail an equaliser and fell to their third consecutive loss.
Scans on Sunday confirmed Dodd suffered a tear and will miss at least the next four fixtures against Melbourne Victory (away), Brisbane (away), Gold Coast (home) and Sydney (away).
Dodd’s hamstring is the latest in a series of injury blows to Perth, who lost defender Scott Neville for what looks likely to be the season with a knee injury 10 days ago.
Fellow defenders Evan Berger (hamstring) and Steve Pantelidis (heel), along with goalkeeper Neil Young (abdominal surgery), are also unavailable through injury.
