Key duo released by Wanderers

The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers today agreed to mutually terminate the contract of players Jumpei Kusukami and Jacob Melling.

Western Sydney Wanderers boss Josep Gombau has started the rebuild of his squad by releasing Jumpei Kusukami and Jacob Melling from the remainder of their contracts.

Kusukami joined the Wanderers prior to the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season and made 51 appearances for the club, scoring once in the Hyundai A-League.

He helped the club reach the Finals Series last season, only to miss the penalty that saw the Wanderers eliminated in a penalty shootout against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium in the opening week of the finals.

This season he played 11 games, starting nine of them and scoring once, while he made seven key passes and had a passing accuracy of more than 81%.

Melling also joined the Wanderers before last season but struggled to break into the squad.

He made just seven appearances in the Hyundai A-League.