Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce has confirmed that Captain Michael Jakobsen will miss Friday’s Hyundai A-League Semi-Final with Newcastle Jets.
The Dane has missed City’s last two matches with a quad injury and has failed to recover in time for his side’s Grand Final qualifier in Newcastle.
Prior to the injury, the central defender had started every match of City’s impressive A-League campaign.
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”He’ll not be travelling. It’s frustrating, disappointing for us and frustrating for the lad, he’s had such a good season,” City coach Warren Joyce told reporters on Thursday.
“He’s played nearly every minute of every game and he’s been asked to play several different positions and sacrificed himself for the team throughout the season.
Joyce refused to be drawn on whether Jakobsen would be fit for next week’s Grand Final – should City qualify – with the Englishman insisting their focus is purely on the Jets.
”He’s not fit for this week and that’s all you can look at at the minute,” Joyce said.
“He tried earlier in the week. We decided then he’s tried this a couple of times and now he’s got to get it right. He wasn’t right at the start of the week and that was it.”
Osama Malik, who has deputised for Jakobsen in recent weeks, is again likely to start in the heart of defence.
City will go into the clash with Newcastle full of confidence having won both fixtures at McDonald Jones Stadium during the regular season.
And while denying his side had a mental edge, Joyce insists ‘anything can happen’ in a knockout match.
“I would say it’s immaterial because it’s a one-off game,” Joyce said when asked about City’s previous victories in Newcastle.
“It’s who turns up tomorrow. Who’s brave enough to get on the ball. Who’s brave enough and competitive enough to never give up and grind and make the result go your way.
“And we’ve got to make sure we’re in that mindset.”
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The night before the Semi Final! We preview the massive clash as we look to qualify for our first Grand Final. #NEWvMCY #ALeagueFinals #OneCity #OneGoal
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— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 26, 2018
