Perth Glory’s Socceroos pair Jacob Burns and Mile Sterjovski are confident of facing Wellington on Sunday and also of playing for Australia against Indonesia in March.
Sterjovski has declared himself a certain starter after overcoming a back injury to play in the Glory’s first ever Hyundai A-League final in Wellington at Westpac Stadium, while Burns is reasonably sure he will return from a tear in his hamstring.
Chris Coyne will also return for the Glory. Sterjovski had two solid training sessions before Perth flew out on Wednesday night and he’s feeling confident about the Glory’s chances of coming away with the victory.
“It was my second session and I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling fit and I’m up for selection for the game. It’s a big boost for us to get a few boys back and they have done really well without us there. Everyone is fighting for places and we’re pretty confident,” Sterjovski said.
“We know it’s going to be difficult and we’re looking forward to it. I think we’ll do really well. People underestimate how hard it is to fly that distance and get a result, and prepare for the game. They are also confident at home like most teams, but we will prepare the best we can and give our best.”
Wellington has not lost at home since October 26, 2008 against the then Queensland Roar, so Glory skipper Burns knows it’s no easy task for Perth, but is also confident of getting the result.
“I’m just taking each game as it comes and am happy to be involved in finals football. We’ve played quite well there, but they do have a fantastic record at home and the pressure is on them. They’ve been in good form and will have a hell of a crowd out there, and we’ll go about our game the same as we’ve done all year,” Burns said.
“It’s a one-off game and OK there is home advantage, but you saw how even the league was all season and the competition across the board is even, so it’s a matter of who turns up on the day.”
Burns has been able to put in solid training stints this week as he prepares to play his first game since the January 22 win at ME Bank Stadium over the Phoenix, but he won’t rule himself in or out until he gets to Wellington.
“I’ve felt better, but I’ve given it everything and there’s been no relapses so it’s been OK from that side of things. The initial prognosis was three weeks and that’s been and gone, I’m just sore everywhere else now. It’s like I’m doing a pre-season again,” he said.
“It’s all going well at this stage and hopefully there will be no setbacks. The boys have done ever so well without us and we don’t know if everyone’s going to be fit, but it’s looking OK at this stage. At the very least we’ll all be travelling and give ourselves every opportunity of being there.”
Sterjovski and Burns are still desperate to earn a spot in the Socceroos World Cup team and will be added to the squad to face Indonesia on March 3 at Suncorp Stadium if they can successfully return from injury.
Burns hopes that happens, but won’t be looking at training in Europe or playing in Asia in preparation for the World Cup until the Glory’s final campaign is over.
“They will watch us closely in this game and if we get through it, and do OK, we’ll be a chance. Fingers crossed that we get through, get the result and then go and play against Indonesia,” he said.
“All the clubs are aware that we are in a wonderful situation here to go and push on to do something wonderful in the finals, and we’ll give it everything until we finish whether it’s the grand final in March or a couple of weeks’ time.”
