Doubts over Del Piero

New coach Frank Farina was left impressed by what he has to work with at Sydney FC but might be without marquee man Alessandro Del Piero next weekend.

New coach Frank Farina was left impressed by what he has to work with at Sydney FC but might be without marquee man Alessandro Del Piero next weekend.

Del Piero was forced off midway through the second half of the Sky Blues’ 0-0 draw with Melbourne Heart on Sunday with a recurrence of his hamstring troubles.

The Italian veteran will have scans early this week before determining if he will be available for the trip to Wellington on Sunday, which will be Farina’s first official match at the helm.

Farina watched from the stands at Allianz Stadium as the Sky Blues snapped a four-game losing streak and would have taken plenty of positives from his new side’s improved performance.

But the injury scare to Del Piero could be crucial if he is to turn Sydney’s fortunes around.

“I think it’s more tight, cramping, sort of in the hamstring,” caretaker coach Steve Corica said of the 38-year-old’s injury.

“We’ll have to wait and see from the scans on Tuesday, see what the damage is and go from there.

“It’s a little bit sore.”

The former Qantas Socceroos boss allowed Corica to take the reins from the bench against the Heart but Farina still had the final say on selection and spoke to the team at half-time.

And while the fitness of Del Piero is a concern, Farina can take heart from his new side’s showing.

“He said himself there were a lot of positives come out of the game,” Corica said of the impact Farina will make on the Sky Blues.

“But he’s going to come in and make changes. Things will change.

“He said to (the players) in the couple of talks he’s had with them, just give me 100 percent.

“That’s all he can ask for and I think the players did that today.

“He’ll put his stamp on the team, especially with the work rate and I think if we do that I think we’re going to be better off for it and we’ll get results.”