Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson is confident the hamstring injury which forced key playmaker Liam Miller from the park in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle is not serious.
Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson is confident the hamstring injury which forced key playmaker Liam Miller from the park in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle is not serious.
Miller limped from the park just 12 minutes into the Glory’s victory, which saw them climb to third spot, but Ferguson said that was largely because of their cautious approach.
He said the Irishman was due to go for scans on Sunday but was confident the problem would be minor.
“It just tightened up, I don’t think it’s anything too serious,” Ferguson said.
“I think it was more precautionary that we took him off rather than trying to get through it.
“But I won’t know until tomorrow. It normally takes 24 hours for things to cool down and then we’ll find out what the scan produces.”
The Glory will be desperately hoping Miller is available for their home fixture against second-placed Brisbane on Saturday as victory would see them move within a point of a top-two spot.
Ferguson said they’re likely to get star striker Shane Smeltz back for the match against the Roar after the New Zealander missed the Jets clash with an ankle injury.
“From what I’ve been told from the medical department he’s got to have a bit of rest and he should be back within three to four days,” he said.
But Perth had few problems overcoming Smeltz’s absence against Newcastle, with goals to Adam Hughes and Billy Mehmet either side of half-time wrapping up the three points.
The Glory’s sixth win from eight matches gave them a four-point advantage over the fifth-placed Heart and a gap of seven over Sydney, who sit in seventh spot, but Ferguson was happier to talk up the performance than focus on ladder positions.
“I’m delighted. I thought we controlled the game for long periods,” he said.
“It was a six-pointer tonight and that was outstanding. The boys deserved to win, from start to finish they put in a great shift.”
“We created four or five really good chances tonight and to get two goals out of that and keep a clean sheet is really pleasing.”
Ferguson was particularly delighted with the performance of Hughes, who replaced Miller early in the game and twice hit the woodwork in addition to his goal.
“I thought he was the best player on the park tonight, I thought he was outstanding,” he said.
“I’m pleased for him, because he’s had to wait and be patient and he’s come in and done a great job.”
