Robbie Fowler fans heading to Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday to see the Round 20 Hyundai A-league clash between North Queensland and the Brisbane Roar could go home disappointed.
Fury coach Ian Ferguson has admitted the Liverpool legend will be used more sparingly to help deal with the club’s hectic holiday schedule.
Fowler was rested after sixty-two minutes in North Queensland’s last outing against Perth and it’ll be more of the same against the Roar.
“Everybody was asking why we brought him off,” Ferguson said.
“When you look at the schedule that’s coming up Robbie hasn’t played that sort of football for probably five or six years,” he said.
“And to give him three games in a week’s a bit unfair you know he’s 34 years old…”
“In saying that we’ve got Robbie Middleby (and) Daniel McBreen in their thirties and we can’t change everyone, but it’s something that we’ve thought about and we’ve decided that we’re going to do it.”
Brisbane know the impact Fowler can have no matter how long he stays on the field, the former English striker scored in the first seven minutes when the teams last met in Townsville.
That encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.
North Queensland’s had a short preparation after defeating Perth (1-0) at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday night and didn’t leave Townsville for Brisbane until this morning.
But experienced midfielder Paul Kohler says travelling on game day shouldn’t affect their performance.
“To be honest I’ve probably only done it a handful of times in my career,” Kohler said.
“I don’t think it should be much of a problem it’s only an hour flight and I think as long as the boys have prepared the right way over the last couple of days in the short turn around … we should be able to get out there and hopefully get a result.”
