The teams are IN ahead of the first legs of the Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Finals.
There’s good news for Melbourne City ahead of Friday night’s clash with Western United at AAMI Park, with experienced midfielder Steven Ugarkovic set to return to the selection fold after a hamstring issue kept him sidelined for the final two games of the regular season.
Mathew Leckie made his return from a hamstring injury in the final round of the regular season and, having made a late bench appearance against Sydney FC, is expected to receive more minutes on Friday night against Western.
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There is an injury concern, however, for City with Socceroos defender Nathaniel Atkinson a “50/50” chance to feature after a minor calf issue suffered against Sydney in Round 29.
“He said he just felt a cramp-like pain, and he had a very light strain, but he’s recovered pretty well from it,” said City head coach Aurelio Vidmar.
“So we’ll just see how we how we goes today, and then, like I said, it’ll be a 50/50, situation for him. If it’s not this week, it should be certainly next week.”
Western head coach John Aloisi has added young trio Kane Vidmar, Riley Foxe and Charbel Shamoon to his Semi-Final squad to take on City at AAMI Park.
On Saturday, Melbourne Victory host Auckland FC in the first leg of their Semi-Final bout. Auckland go into leg one with a strong extended squad, while Victory could welcome Reno Piscopo back from an injury layoff.
Read on for all the team news below.
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Western United v Melbourne City
Friday, May 16 – AAMI Park – 7.35pm AEST
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Western United squad: 5. Oliver LAVALE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 17. Ben GARUCCIO (c), 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 26. Riley FOXE, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 44. Jordan LAUTON, 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 77. Riku DANZAKI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 22. Kane VIDMAR (promoted), 26. Riley FOXE (promoted), 29. Charbel SHAMOON
Outs: 4. James DONACHIE (injured)
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne City squad: 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 17. Max CAPUTO, 18. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 21. Alessandro LOPANE, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 47. Kavian RAHMANI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (returns from injury), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN (calf), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN
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Melbourne Victory v Auckland FC
Saturday, May 17 – AAMI Park – 7.35pm AEST
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Melbourne Victory squad: 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
Ins: 27. Reno PISCOPO (promoted)
Outs: 3. Adama TRAORE (injured)
Unavailable: 1. Mitch LANGERAK (injured)
Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY, 14. Liam GILLION
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
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