Star Newcastle Jets import Wes Hoolahan is in line to make his long-awaited Hyundai A-League debut after Carl Robinson included him in his Jets squad preparing to face Melbourne Victory on Saturday afternoon.
The ‘Irish Messi’ sustained a serious ankle injury in September, 2019, forcing Jets fans to wait to see the former-English Premier League star in action for their side, but that wait may just be over as Hoolahan joins the Jets squad for Round 20.
Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, travel to face the Jets without Robbie Kruse, who will miss his first game in what is expected to be an extended absence as he recovers from a hamstring tear.
In the early Saturday kick-off Tony Popovic takes his Perth Glory squad to face Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon with Diego Castro recalled to his squad after a two-game injury layoff.
Perth’s talismanic captain has been out of action since Round 16, and he returns to the fray to face a Brisbane outfit high on confidence and boosted by the return of their own attacking weapon Scott McDonald, who missed the Roar’s win over Western United in Round 19.
Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC round out this weekend’s action on Sunday afternoon, and the bottom-placed Mariners will take confidence from the returning Tommy Oar and Matt Simon as they look to claim a massive scalp against the league leaders at Central Coast Stadium.
Read on for all of the important team news for every match this weekend.
HOW TO WATCH: Every Hyundai A-League match in Round 20
STATS PREVIEW: Western United need Phoenix-killer Berisha more than ever
Wellington Phoenix v Western United
Friday, 21 February 2020
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-Off: 7:15pm (Local) (5:15pm (AEDT))
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: Scott Edeling
Assistant Referee 2: Sarah Jones
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
VAR: Nick Waldron
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5:00pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WELvWUN
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Stefan MARINOVIC (gk), 2.Liam McGING, 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 5.Matti STEINMANN, 6.Tim PAYNE, 7.Reno PISCOPO, 8.Cameron DEVLIN, 9. David BALL, 10.Ulises DAVILA, 11.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 12. Brandan Wilson, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Callum MCCOWATT, 27.Steven TAYLOR (c), 31.Ben WAINE, 32.Sam SUTTON, 88. Gary HOOPER
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Liam McGING (Promoted), 6.Tim PAYNE (Return from Suspension)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 16.Louis FENTON (Shoulder – season), 23.Walter SCOTT (Injury – Knee)
Western United FC squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Andrew DURANTE, 5.Dylan PIERIAS, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7.Valentino YUEL, 8.Panagiotis KONE, 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Dario JERTEC, 14.Max BURGESS, 17.Joshua CAVALLO, 18.Besart BERISHA, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Tomislav USKOK, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 24.Thiel Iradukunda, 25.Luke DUZEL, 27.Jerry SKOTADIS, 28.Oskar Dillon, 30.Ryan SCOTT (gk)
*2-4 to be omitted*
Ins: 12.Dario JERTEC (promoted), 22.Tomislav USKOK (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Aaron CALVER (foot 2 weeks) 13.Ivan VUJICA (osteitis ), 20.James DELIANOV (gk) (knee, season), 3.Brendan HAMILL (knee, season)
MATCH PREVIEW: Wellington Phoenix v Western United
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6094462394001
Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United
Friday, 21 February 2020
Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT))
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Kearney Robinson
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew McOrist
Fourth Official: Tim Danaskos
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:00pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (SWR999).
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvADL
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Daniel LOPAR (gk), 4.Dylan MCGOWAN, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Matthew JURMAN, 7.Mitchell DUKE (c), 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 9.Nicolai MULLER, 10.Simon COX, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 13.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 17.Keanu BACCUS, 19.Pirmin SCHWEGLER, 22.Nicholas SULLIVAN, 23.Kosta GROZOS, 27.Kwame YEBOAH, 31.Noah PAGDEN, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 34.Patrick ZIEGLER, 35.Mohamed ADAM, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (gk)
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY (promoted), 31.Noah PAGDEN (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (shoulder), 29.Daniel WILMERING (knee), Radoslaw MAJEWSKI (knee)
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 5.Michaël MARIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Riley McGREE, 11.Kristian OPSETH, 14.George BLACKWOOD 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Louis D’ARRIGO, 29.Kusini YENGI, 31.Mirko BOLAND, 34.Yared ABETEW, 36.Noah SMITH, 40.Dakota OCHSENHAM (gk), 49.Mohamed TOURE
**0-2 to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Michael MARRONE (returns from injury), 7.Ryan KITTO (returns from injury), 29.Kusini YENGI (promoted)
Outs: 6.Stefan MAUK (quad)
Unavailable: 4.Ryan STRAIN (hamstring), 10.James TROISI (quad), 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (knee), 18.Lachlan BROOK (international duty), 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (adductor), 35.Al Hassan TOURE (foot)
MATCH PREVIEW: Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6118412826001
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Saturday, 22 February 2020
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Kick-Off: 4:00pm (Local) (5:00pm (AEDT))
Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Lindsay
Assistant Referee 2: Anton Shchetinin
Fourth Official: Adam Kersey
VAR: Craig Zetter
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5:00pm (AEDT), ABC TV from 5:00pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (6PR, SEN2, Super Radio Network).
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 2.Scott NEVILLE, 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 10.Bradden INMAN, 12.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Aaron REARDON, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Aaron AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Jake MCGING, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 30.Mirza MURATOVIC, 77.Scott MCDONALD
** 2-4 to be omitted **
Ins: 15.Aaron REARDON (promoted), 27.Kai TREWIN (promoted), 77.Scott MCDONALD (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 28.Izaack POWELL (international duty), 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (knee – TBC)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Jacob TRATT, 4.Gregory WUTHRICH, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.James MEREDITH, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI, 12.Kim SOO-BEOM, 13.Osama MALIK, 16.Tomislav MRCELA, 17.Diego CASTRO (c), 18.Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Vince LIA, 28.Gabriel POPOVIC, 29.Kristian POPOVIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Jacob TRATT (promoted), 13.Osama MALIK (promoted), 17.Diego CASTRO (c) (returns from injury)
Outs: 23.Dane INGHAM (omitted)
Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (ankle – indefinite), 19.Chris IKONOMIDIS (knee – season), 27.JUANDE (groin – 1 week)
MATCH PREVIEW: Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6094470289001
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, 22 February 2020
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT))
Referee: Alireza Faghani
Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham
Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
Fourth Official: Stephen Laurie
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:00pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvMVC
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Bobby BURNS, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Roy O’DONOVAN, 8.Wes HOOLAHAN, 9.Abdiel ARROYO, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 16.Matt MILLAR, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 23.Matt RIDENTON, 25.Jack SIMMONS, 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 29.Connor O’TOOLE, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (2-4 to be omitted)
Ins: 8.Wes HOOLAHAN (promoted), 23.Matt RIDENTON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (quad – 3-5 weeks), 22.Lachlan JACKSON (knee – indefinite), 40.Noah JAMES (hand – 3 months
Melbourne Victory squad: 4.James DONACHIE, 5.Tim HOOGLAND, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Jakob POULSEN, 9.Andrew NABBOUT, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 18.Migjen BASHA, 19.Ben CARRIGAN, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Adama TRAORE, 23. Marco ROJAS, 24.Anthony LESIOTIS, 25.Brandon LAUTON, 30. Matthew SUTTON, 32. So NISHIKAWA
**1-3 to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Leigh BROXHAM (return from injury), 7.Kenny ATHIU (promoted), 30. Matthew SUTTON (promoted), 32. So NISHIKAWA (promoted)
Outs: 2.Storm ROUX (calf),10.Robbie KRUSE (hamstring), 26.Jay BARNETT (injured – to be assessed) 50.Brendan WHITE (released)
Unavailable: 1.Matt ACTON (shoulder)
MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119829765001
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Sunday, 22 February 2020
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 6:00pm (Local) (6:00pm (AEDT))
Referee: Chris Beath
Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: Brad Wright
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5:30pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (SWR999, Coast FM).
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #CCMvSYD
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Eunsun KIM, 7.Milan ÐURIĆ, 8.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 10.Tommy OAR, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 16.Dylan FOX, 17.Sam SILVERA, 18.Gianni STENSNESS, 19.Matt SIMON, 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW, 24.Chris HAROLD, 26.Joshua NISBET, 27.Lewis MILLER, 29.Jair BRITTO
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 10.Tommy OAR (Return from Injury), 19.Matt SIMON (Return from Injury), 22, Jacob MELLING (Promoted), 23.Mario SHABOW (Promoted)
Outs: 30.Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ (not selected)
Unavailable: 14.Abraham MAJOK (Injured), 16.Kye ROWLES (Injured), 30.Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ (International Duty)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 3.Ben WARLAND, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE, 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Jordi SWIBEL, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 3. Ben WARLAND (return from injury), 24.Marco TILIO (promoted), 27.Jordi SWIBEL (promoted), 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN (suspended – 1 match), 7. Michael ZULLO (calf), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee)
MATCH PREVIEW: Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115817703001
Bye: Melbourne City FC