Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson has confirmed Dutch midfielder Victor Sikora will miss the rest of the season after being forced to undergo more surgery on a chronic hip injury.
Sikora hasn’t played since first injuring his hip last December, missing Perth’s first Hyundai A-League finals series.
The former Dutch international had returned to training last month but quickly suffered some minor problems, before having more surgery on his hip last Friday.
Losing the 32-year-old Dutchman was the last thing coach Ian Ferguson needs as he desperately tries to build some winning momentum, the club having enjoyed just one victory from the last 12 games.
“Victor’s had to go in (for surgery), he’ll be gone for the season,” was Ferguson’s simple assessment.
“We’re looking for an injury replacement as we speak.”
“We’re getting around the clubs and we’re getting around the other agents to see what’s available.”
“(But) it’s very difficult to get somebody in just now ’cause the FFA won’t allow you to get somebody who’s with another club, they’ll only allow you, if the player is out of contract and at the moment it’s very difficult to try (and find someone like) that.”
“We are looking and we have had people working on it to try and get a player in as quickly as possible.”
Sikora’s new problem was just one of several injury blows for the Glory last week.
Just when the club thought it had turned the corner after a 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory, central defenders Andy Todd and Jamie Harnwell were cut down by injury at training last Friday, the day before the team flew to Sydney for what proved a 2-0 loss to the Sky Blues.
Ferguson, though, has taken almost the entire squad over to the east coast, as the club’s opted to stay on that side of the country ahead of Wednesday night’s clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, followed by Sunday’s trip to Townsville to take on North Queensland.
Ferguson said Harnwell was no chance of playing against league leader Brisbane with his calf injury, his place in central defence to be taken by Scott Neville, who is returning from suspension. The veteran Glory utility will probably be in doubt for the Fury game as well after a series of calf problems over the last few years.
Todd’s hip injury is more severe, though, Ferguson saying he hopes to have the former Blackburn captain available for Perth’s December 12 clash with Central Coast at home.
“We’re hoping it’s between seven and 10 days,” Ferguson said when asked how long it would take Todd to recover from this latest problem in a season that’s already seen him have prior knee and hip issues.
“We’re hoping it will be okay for him to come back (against the Mariners) and we’ve got a 14 day break.”
