Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell is resigned to losing his three Socceroos players to a January loan move as they look to earn a place in Pim Verbeek’s World Cup squad.
Speaking on Friday at Glory training, Mitchell said national representatives Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Chris Coyne had all informed him they would be seeking a January loan away from the Glory to either a European or Asian club.
This would ensure the trio play a complete European-style season, which finishes in April/May as opposed to the Hyundai A-League’s March finish, meaning the players are fully match fit for a possible berth at the June tournament.
The loan moves are still up in the air as the players’ agents will need to organise them, but Mitchell is resigned to not having his star trio available for a potential finals appearance if the Glory make the top six.
“We’ve decided that if things happen for them, they’ll move,” Mitchell said.
“So the decision is that they want to go, so it will be a situation that, that will happen, hopefully as late a possible in January.”
“When it’s going to happen, we’re not exactly sure. But it won’t be easy. It’s not that easy moving players (out on loan).”
Mitchell was philosophical about the player’s decision, seeing it as something of a long-term investment in them being motivated to give their best for the remainder of their Glory contracts.
“If they did stay and they weren’t selected, they’d think in the back of their minds, was it because they stayed,” Mitchell said.
“For all parties concerned, we’re trying to look at the best possible outcome.”
Mitchell also poured cold water on the possible return of former Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya on loan from Dutch powerhouse FC Twente during January.
Rukavytsya, a fringe Socceroo, has struggled to break into the first team at Twente as it leads the Dutch competition. However, playing in Holland would only strengthen his chances of World Cup selection.
“We didn’t make any moves (for Rukavytsya),” Mitchell said.
“We just found out that the possibility of him moving back wasn’t going to happen.”
Of more immediate concern for the Glory coach ahead of playing league leader Sydney FC on Sunday is an illness being suffered by Sterjovski.
The Glory marquee man returned from national duty in Oman last Monday with a virus and did not train until Friday’s session, although he seemed to make it through without any issues.
The Glory are already down a midfielder as Wayne Srhoj is serving a one-match suspension for earning five yellow cards. But the club will get Jamie Coyne back from injury and the former captain is a possibility to slot into Srhoj’s position.
The Glory may also spring a surprise inclusion in Victor Sikora, who missed the last two matches with a hamstring strain. Mitchell was surprised by how strongly the Dutchman trained on Friday, saying he may use Sikora as a late inclusion.
