Adelaide has signed midfielder Rostyn Griffiths to cover the injured Jason Spagnuolo ahead of the start of the Hyundai A-League finals series this weekend.
Griffiths comes to the Reds from English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, where he was a regular feature in the Reserves team.
The 20-year-old was signed to a four-week deal with the possibility of a further two-year extension.
“We needed some strength in the midfield because we’ve been a little bit depleted with players in the midfield, so we’ve made some contact over the last couple of weeks and it’s a good opportunity for him to try and play some senior football,” Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar said.
“We’ll just have to see how he goes over the next couple of training sessions, and see where he’s going to fit in, but he’s certainly going to be an asset for us.”
“He’s a big lad, he’s got very good technique, is someone who likes to get forward, a box to box type of player and that’s certainly what we’ve been missing over the last few weeks.”
Griffiths’ journey to Australia is somewhat similar to that of left back Scott Jamieson, who joined the Reds after time at Bolton.
Jamieson has become one of the finds of the season, winning the Rising Star award at Monday night’s awards and if Griffiths can emulate this success the future could be bright for Adelaide heading into next season.
“I heard he (Jamieson) had done well and that was a big appeal to me, to come back and do well and see where it takes me from there,” Griffiths said.
“The opportunity just presented itself at the right time for me and obviously I had a look at a few other options, and this one just appealed to me.”
“Depending on what the gaffer wants to do with me, if given the opportunity then I think I can make an impact and that’s what I want to do as soon as possible.”
Griffiths arrived in Adelaide on Monday and will start training with the squad this week as United prepares to face Melbourne in the first leg of the major semi-final on Saturday night at Hindmarsh Stadium.
“Hopefully once I get my jetlag out the way, I feel pretty fit in general and have been training so I think it should be an easy transition,” he said.
Spagnuolo has been put on the club’s long term injury list after the attacking midfielder, who will join new franchise North Queensland Fury next season, strained a knee ligament at training.
