The problems just keep mounting at Perth Glory as interim coach Ian Ferguson was forced to confront some last-minute injuries before his squad flew to Adelaide for Wednesday night’s clash with the Reds.
Preparing for the third game in eight days, the last thing Ferguson needed was injury concerns as he looks to keep his squad fresh for the game at Hindmarsh Stadium and also for next Sunday’s battle with Melbourne Victory at home.
But the Scotsman revealed there were two players who couldn’t finish training on Tuesday morning.
“The session this morning, had these plans about what we were going to do and what we’re going go try and then we got a couple of injuries,” Ferguson said from Perth airport on Tuesday.
“I’ve got two concerns now so I couldn’t actually name the team.”
“We couldn’t do set pieces. The games are coming thick and fast (and) we’ve only had one session. I’m disappointed ’cause I wanted to get the team settled and ready for tomorrow but now I can’t do that.”
“When you luck’s down you’re luck’s down, but you’ve got to get on with it, stop feeling sorry for yourselves, pick yourself up and go again.”
Ferguson wouldn’t reveal who the players were, but said they would both still travel to Adelaide in the hope they recovered quicker than expected.
One of those players may be defender Scott Neville, who copped a nasty cork in last week’s 1-0 loss to Wellington and was forced off in the 30th minute. Neville travelled with the squad and Ferguson is hopeful he can take his place on the right.
“We’ve got another 24 hours with him (Neville) which could be good for him,” Ferguson said.
“We’ve done this last time he got the same sort of injury and it responded well.”
“He’s a quick healer and let’s hope we can get him on the park, he’s a big part of Perth Glory and giving us what we’re looking for in different positions really.”
Ferguson said former Blackburn skipper Andy Todd would lead the side out onto the park in the absence of suspended skipper Jacob Burns.
He also confirmed Robbie Fowler would start against the Reds after two matches coming off the bench in the hope he can find the clinical edge the Glory have lacked over the last nine weeks, where they have scored just two goals.
“It’s been a big concern when you look at the quality of the strikers we’ve got and I don’t think we’ve hit the net, I think it’s three games now.”
“It’s quite a concern but as I said, we’ve got to keep hoping that we’ll get there, and keep trying to create the chances which we have been doing.”
“The last two games I’ve felt as though there’s been a huge improvement where we were the last four or five, so again it’s small steps.”
“I know it’s all grey and everybody’s getting frustrated with the results but we’ve got to keep going, keep positive and hopefully we’ll turn the corner sooner rather than later,” he said.
