Socceroos defender Craig Moore will be aiming to make it two from two at Suncorp Stadium this week when he starts for the Queensland Roar on Friday night.
Moore celebrated his return to international football with a 4-0 thumping of Qatar in Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier, but it was business as usual at training in Brisbane on Thursday.
Moore may have been restricted to only a light recovery session, but Roar coach Frank Farina was in no doubt that his captain would overcome a two-day turnaround to start for the Roar in their Hyundai A-League clash against Adelaide United.
“Watching Craig play I thought he was superb, didn’t put a foot wrong, his passing game was brilliant, and just his general play and organising,” Farina said.
“I’m happy to see him turn up and he’s fit and ready to go, it’s good.”
The Socceroos veteran, who recently rescinded his international retirement after spending eight months out of the side, has spent the past week in the Australian camp, but Farina suggested the Friday night fixture would have always been in the back of his mind.
“Even the week he was away, his mind was obviously focused on that game, but also the club game,” Farina said.
Partnering Moore in the Roar’s central defence will be veteran Josh McCloughan, who completed a National Youth League hit-out last week ahead of his return to the fold after a seven-week absence with a hip flexor injury.
McCloughan’s clean bill of health provided Farina with a selection headache after youngsters Matt Mundy and Luke DeVere had performed admirably in his centre back position.
But with DeVere failing to have any match practice while he was on tour with the Young Socceroos, there was only one option in Farina’s mind.
“Josh will start alongside Craig, young Luke has just gotten back and he didn’t play a game over there, and he’s got to head off on Wednesday so Josh will start,” Farina said.
“It’s been a while.”
“It’s good to have him back and I know he’s got the fire in the belly and he’s desperate to play well.”
It has not been all good news for the Roar at the selection table, with a calf injury sideling Dutch striker Sergio van Dijk.
Charlie Miller has also been diagnosed with a hernia, but Farina was confident his in-form Scottish import would be able to carry the ailment for the rest of the 2008/09 A-League season.
“Charlie will definitely play,” Farina said.
“He’s in good nick, a little bit of a hernia problem but as long as he can get through or the pain doesn’t increase, he should be right for the rest of the season.”
Farina tipped Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar would not rest his chargers, despite a hectic schedule ahead of the second-leg of the Asian Champions League semi-final in Uzbekistan on October 22.
“Adelaide wants to be competitive on the two fronts, they’ve got one foot in the door for the Champions League, but they’ll want to stay in touch with the A-League as well,” Farina added.
“I’m expecting that Aurelio will field his best side on Friday night, they’ll be as tough as ever.”
“They’ll be full of confidence, they’re playing good football, so it’ll be tough.”
