Adelaide United is looking to add some firepower to its line-up for the 2010 AFC Champions League after inviting former Brisbane striker Michael Baird to the club for a one-week trial.
Baird, who was one of the Roar’s initial signings ahead of the inaugural Hyundai A-League season, has been playing in Romania’s premier division with FC Universitatea Craiova.
He will train with the Reds this week and could even be a possible inclusion in the team when the January transfer window opens, should he impress coach Aurelio Vidmar.
Baird scored six goals for the Roar in the club’s debut season, before moving to Romania in 2006 where he has scored 12 goals in 63 appearances.
Adelaide United director of football Michael Petrillo said Baird would fit in nicely at the club.
“We’ve got one spot left on our roster, he has to be an Australian player and Michael is a very versatile player who has played in the A-League previously and has been playing in a reasonably strong league in Romania,” Petrillo said.
“So we’re just going to have a look, see what sort of shape he’s in and then reassess at the end of the week.”
Born and bred in Brisbane, Baird started his senior career in 2000 in the Brisbane Premier League before joining the Brisbane Strikers in the old National Soccer League (NSL). He also had stints with fellow NSL clubs South Melbourne and Sydney Olympic.
Baird represented Australia at Under-20 level and Petrillo is optimistic about the value he could add to United’s squad.
