Perth trip steels GCU

Gold Coast United assistant coach Paul Okon is confident that his team can overcome a disrupted preparation to take care of business against the Glory in Perth on Sunday.

Gold Coast United assistant coach Paul Okon is confident that his team can overcome a disrupted preparation to take care of business against the Glory in Perth on Sunday.

While the league leader welcomed back skipper Jason Culina from Qantas Socceroos duty during the week, it wasn’t all smooth sailing with Joel Porter and Matt Osman ruled out of the Round 6 fixture and star striker Shane Smeltz away on international duty.

Smeltz took to the field for New Zealand in Jordan and will link with his team-mates in Perth on Friday.

“Shane’s preparation is a bit of a worry, hopefully he gets through the game with the Kiwis without any injuries and rests up for the game because we are going to need him as fit as possible,” Okon said.

“There is no doubt that he will be up for the match, he will be keen to continue on his rich goal scoring run.”

The trip to Perth is regarded as the toughest road trip for Hyundai A-League franchises, a fact which Okon says United has planned well for.

“I remember going there as a player, I think it is one of the most difficult places to go and get three points,” he said.

“Usually you would go there two days before the match but we will go a step further to give ourselves an extra day.”

Brazilian Milson will partner Smeltz up front.

“This will be my first start if I am selected and obviously I hope to do well for myself and for the team,” Milson said.

He continued: “I have prepared well and I am really looking forward to the game. Replacing Joel Porter is not easy because he is a very good player who has done very well so far this season.”

“But we have a very good squad and when we lose a good player there is always another good player ready to come in and perform well for the team.”

“If I have a chance to score a goal then that will be very nice, but the most important thing is for Gold Coast United to win the game, get the three points and stay on top of the league.”

Arriving on Thursday will give Gold Coast two full days to finetune its plays and finalise its line-up.

Former Central Coast Mariner Osman – the man who provided the cross for Smeltz incredible header against Sydney – is likely to miss at least one match with a hip flexor injury which he aggravated in the win.

Okon says that Osman probably could play but there was no need to risk him with the depth of players available to step into his position.

“From the start of the season we haven’t put anyone out there who wasn’t fully fit, we have complete faith in those who come into the team to do the job,” he said.

“The way we want to play and with the tempo we have been playing at there is no room out there for anyone who isn’t 100 percent.”