Gold Coast is set to replace Brazilian midfielder Jefferson with compatriot Anderson Alves da Silva after the former suffered a serious knee injury last week.
Jefferson is likely to miss up to four months after injuring his knee during a training session and coach Miron Bleiberg moved quickly to recruit Anderson, older brother of Robson, who also plays for the club.
Anderson, a former Brazilian Under-17 and Under-20 international, will join up with his new team-mates in Singapore next week and Bleiberg sees the 26-year-old as an ideal replacement for Jefferson.
“I watched him play when I was in Brazil, but at that time I had no room to bring another visa player,” said Bleiberg.
“With Jefferson now injured we can bring him over as injury cover. He’s a well-credentialed player.”
“He actually played in the final of the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championships in New Zealand when Australia were the opponents, the same game that Jess Vanstrattan took part in.”
“He will come to us on a short-term contract and the likelihood is that he will meet up with us in Singapore or Hong Kong next week and then come back to Australia with us.”
Gold Coast begins its inaugural A-League campaign with a match against Brisbane Roar on Saturday August 8.
