Two days after unveiling Adelaide United’s new Uruguayan signing, Francisco Usúcar, coach Rini Coolen has given another hint about the striker that he revealed would be joining the Reds in January – he is European.
When Coolen presented Usúcar to the media on Tuesday, the Dutchman also admitted the Reds would be welcoming another foreign player and hoped to make an announcement in “a couple of days”.
Coolen remained tight lipped on Thursday and refused to name the mystery player or the details of his imminent arrival, but the Dutchman did reveal the striker is actually a winger and of a similar style to captain Travis Dodd and injured Young Socceroo Matthew Leckie.
“There are still a lot of things to do and a lot of things to discuss. We have some options but we don’t know for sure the entire situation,” he said.
“It’s not actually a striker, but more of a winger. We need a person who can play on both sides of the wing. At the moment, with Leckie out we just have Travis Dodd and Iain Ramsay on the left side.”
“We need one more, we have a few options but we’re not sure so we’ll have to wait for a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks.”
“It’s a player from Europe but until we know for sure it’s better we don’t talk about names but I hope he will join us as soon as possible.”
Coolen said the winger is quick and has significant experience with both being the most important qualities the import will bring to the side.
The Reds coach admitted the recruit will have an immediate impact on United’s squad.
“He has to be a player who can bring us to a better level with some experience as well but the most important thing is speed,” Coolen said.
“It’s a part of our game, transition moments. And we need some speed on the wings, it makes us more dangerous. So that’s one of the most important reasons, to bring some speed back in our game and experience.”
Meanwhile Usúcar has made a solid start since arriving on Tuesday and has began training with the squad in a bid to shake jetlag as quickly as possible.
Coolen doesn’t foresee any problems with the midfielder’s fitness, with Usúcar coming off a full season in Uruguay’s Primera Division, but said the 24 year-old will be worked hard in the lead up to his highly anticipated debut against Brisbane Roar on January 2.
“I think it’s good to have him here already so everyone gets to know him,” he said.
“He can start training to help him try get over the jetlag and it’s good to have him prepare already for the January period, so we’ll use him as much as possible in our training sessions and team talks.”
“He’s already played a full season so he’s real fit. He’s taken it slowly so far but in the last week before he plays in January we will need to build up his fitness again.”
