The buzz surrounding Perth Glory’s drought-breaking win could be short-lived, with veteran defenders Jamie Harnwell and Andy Todd injured at training on Friday morning ahead of a three-game road stretch.
The Glory scored a tremendous 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory at nib Stadium on Sunday thanks to a Robbie Fowler hat-trick that brought to an end a horror 10-game winless win that included nine losses after a three win, two draw start to the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League campaign.
With Scott Neville already out suspended ahead of Sunday’s clash with Sydney FC at Parramatta Stadium, which leads into Wednesday’s game with Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium before next Sunday’s battle with North Queensland in Townsville, two key injuries could be tough to take.
Todd hurt his hip at training on Friday morning with Harnwell re-injuring his troublesome calf as the Glory look to try and take some momentum out of last week’s impressive win.
Interim coach Ian Ferguson obviously would like as many experienced players available as possible for the road trip of three games in seven days, but with the likes of Tommy Amphlett, Howard Fondyke and Josh Mitchell showing good signs, he’ll give opportunities to youngsters.
“I think we need all our most experienced ones at this point because it’s quite a gruelling schedule coming up,” Ferguson said.
“Still some kids will play some time during the next three games as well though. It’s a gruelling time for us. We’ve got to go there and try to pick up points and be positive. We have been positive the last three or four games and it’s been very noticeable.”
Naum Sekulovski is likely to be recalled for the clash with Sydney after his handball incident in the loss to Adelaide a week and-a-half ago, while marquee player Mile Sterjovski should be available to play after missing the last two games with a groin injury.
“Coming back into the squad Mile will travel with us,” Ferguson said.
“He has been out for the last couple of games, but he will definitely travel and it’s good to have him back.”
One Glory defender who will certainly be available to play is Jamie Coyne and with Perth still on the verge of the top-six despite that horror 10-game stretch, he knows how important it is that the team comes home with as many points as possible from the three games.
“They are three really tough games, but three very important ones,” Coyne said.
“With the situation we are in at the moment we really need to get a couple of results.”
