Adelaide United midfielder Paul Reid says the suspension of team-mate Robbie Cornthwaite has been a distraction ahead of the Reds’ clash with Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium on Friday.
Cornthwaite will be on the sidelines for two games as punishment following an incident with a nightclub bouncer last weekend.
Reid said the team would definitely miss the 24-year-old’s contribution against the Phoenix.
“Obviously it is a distraction but we get on with it. We are professional footballers and Cornie has told the boys how sorry he is for what he has done so he’s learnt his lesson,” Reid said.
“He’s been an integral part of our team for the last couple of years and he’s going to be a big loss but we’ve got plenty of players to come in and fill his position.”
“We’ve just got to keep a lot tighter all over the park and not just the back four. We’ve got to work well as a unit and that starts at the front.”
Coach Aurelio Vidmar has had his man management skills tested in the past three weeks.
Disgruntled midfielder Cassio pulled out of the Round 3 clash against Gold Coast, an illness in the family almost kept goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic from travelling with the squad on Wednesday while Cornthwaite’s indiscretion messed with his defensive plans.
Bur Vidmar said the events of earlier in the week would not affect his team’s performance.
“It (the Cornthwaite incident) happened at the beginning of the week and that was extremely important that we got over it over the first few days and that’s exactly what happened and it was dealt with quite quickly,” he said.
“The week has been really good at training, again today was very good so we are looking forward to the game on Friday.”
“He’s certainly going to be a loss but that’s what we’ve got, he’s been a very good player for us over the last couple of years so no Cornie but we need to deal with that and I think we can.”
Vidmar said he wasn’t sure whether Cornthwaite’s suspension would galvanise the side and drive them towards a much-needed victory.
“It could but you don’t know. The mood has been very good so that’s really important and we probably need that little bit of luck to get another win on the board and then move forward from there.”
Apart from Cornthwaite, Adelaide will again be without Travis Dodd, Cassio, Fabian Barbiero and Kristian Sarkies who have calf injuries.
Travelling with the side is the Reds’ last signing for the season, 18-year-old Mathew Leckie.
Leckie has signed a two-year deal with the Reds, the Melbourne born winger a current member of the Young Socceroos having recently competed in the ASEAN Football Federation Under-19 Championships in Thailand alongside young United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
“He (Leckie) is an attacking wide midfielder, either the left or right hand side and he’s extremely quick,” Vidmar said.
“At this stage he’s probably not technically in the right space but certainly that’s something we can work on, but he knows one thing and that’s how to get in front of goals.”
“He’s part of that under 23 group, with Joe Costa and Francesco Monterosso, that we’ve got time to work with and hopefully he’s a good prospect for our future.”
