Perth defender Naum Sekulovski is confident the Glory can overcome the loss of suspended Andy Todd as they travel to face a revived Gold Coast United this weekend.
Former Blackburn Rovers captain Todd has been a vital cog in helping Perth to third on the Hyundai A-League table, but he’ll be sorely missed this weekend after receiving two yellow cards during the Glory’s 1-0 win over Adelaide on Friday night.
Todd has formed an impressive partnership with Qantas Socceroo Chris Coyne in central defence that’s seen just 11 goals conceded this season and just three in the past month.
But Sekulovski believes the club now has the depth to cover for the 35-year-old, even when facing a full-strength Gold Coast side that will welcome back star players Jason Culina and Shane Smeltz from international duty.
“It’s going to be tough without him, but I’m sure we’ll manage,” Sekulovski said on Monday.
“He’s been really solid in the backline there (and) you speak of quality, what a buy that was in the off season.”
“But we’ve got boys in the squad which can fill in.”
“(So), I think going forward we’re set for a good road trip,” Sekulovski added referring to the Gold Coast clash and the Glory’s Round 12 trip to Townsville to face the Fury.
“We can obviously do well and create a bit of a gap (at the top of the table) or we could go in the other direction,”
“(But) I don’t think we will. I think we’ve got a bit of momentum at this point of time.”
Although he deferred questions on selection to coach Dave Mitchell, Sekulovski felt the most likely replacement for Todd in central defence would be Chris Coyne’s younger brother Jamie, with youngster Scott Neville slotting in at right-back.
Although confident the Coyne brother’s partnership will bear fruit, Sekulovski admitted the Todd/Chris Coyne pairing gave him plenty of belief going forward, safe in the knowledge the central defenders would back him up should there be a quick counter-attack.
Indeed, 27-year-old Sekulovski has been a vital weapon during this campaign, using his ability to hold onto possession and pick out a team-mate to good effect as he’s attacked along the left-flank.
“I obviously got the body right in the off season and things are starting to look good, which is fantastic on a personal note,” Sekulovski said.
“I had some ongoing hamstring issues and that’s one thing that I wanted to get right in the off-season, which I did.”
“I sat down with Mitch and the club and we looked at it. We had to get it right and we did and I think I’m seeing the results,” he said.
Sekulovski also dismissed the idea there would be any less chatter from the defence in Todd’s absence as the Glory looked to take out the second instalment of the Iron-Ore Cup.
“Chris is a general at the back so he’s always yelling at me and telling me what to do.”
“It’s fantastic, that’s what you need in the last line of defence, so it’s been great support.”
“I think it’s (being a chatterbox) just part of the Coyne bloodline. They’re just a special species,” he joked.
Glory captain Jacob Burns will return from suspension for this game, but it’s uncertain whether Gold Coast United owner, billionaire Clive Palmer, will be fit to attend after spending Sunday night in hospital with chest pains.
