Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay admits CommBank Socceroos goalkeeper Tom Glover has been training with the Sky Blues ahead of the Isuzu UTE A-League season but says a deal is not on the cards.
Glover was one of three goalkeepers selected by Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic for the home and away friendly matches against New Zealand during the September international window.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ADELAIDE UNITED V SYDNEY FC
However, despite being called up by his country, Glover has struggled to secure regular game time with Boro since joining the club in 2023 and was subsequently released during that window.
Glover initially signed a three-year deal when he joined the EFL Championship side from Melbourne City but is now a free agent and on the lookout for a new club.
BIG NEWS: Central Coast Mariners name interim coach ahead of F3 Derby opener: Details
STAR POWER: Your club’s big-name attraction and what they could achieve in 2025-26
“I worked with Tommy in the young Socceroos, Nashy (Sydney FC goalkeeping coach Matthew Nash) worked with Tommy at Central Coast,” Talay said ahead of a Round 1 showdown against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
“The reality was that he was released by Middlesbrough and just wanted an environment where he can continue to be training and ticking over until that next move was possible for him.
“So that’s what we’re providing for Tommy at this present time.”
Asked whether or not there was any temptation on Sydney FC’s part to snap-up the ex-Melbourne City keeper, Talay admits a move is unlikely.
“No, no discussions whatsoever with Tommy about staying with us,” smiled Talay when speaking at his pre-match press conference.
“I think he’s still opting to find an opportunity overseas at this present time.”
Goalkeepers Harrison Devenish-Meares and Gus Hoefsloot are the players battling it out for the number one spot at the club this season, with the latter expected to be Talay’s first-choice gloveman despite Devenish-Meares playing 20 league matches last season.
Another player who will be lining up for Sydney FC this Friday night though is off-season recruit Marcel Tisserand.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
The 32-year-old DR Congo international, who joined from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, has had his minutes managed during pre-season after suffering a hamstring injury with his old club but Talay says the central defender will be in the starting XI.
“Look Marcel will start the game,” said Talay when asked about the 36-time Congolese international centre-back.
“We’ll push him as far as we can push him in the game. We’ll try to keep him on the park as long as we can.
“And like I said, he’ll be very influential in organising and leading the group in front of him. So you know, hopefully we can rely on his experience to get him through the game.”
Two players who won’t feature though are fellow off-season recruits Ben Garuccio and Abel Walatee, both of whom joined the Sky Blues from Western United.
“Abel is probably a little bit ahead of where Benny is, but they’ve had a disrupted pre-season,” said Talay.
“So he’s (Garuccio) been training the last couple of weeks. We’re trying to get loads into his legs. We’ve got to be careful these players too, we don’t want to chuck them in too early where they break down.
“We just got to make sure they get the load in the legs and then they’re available to play.”
Meanwhile, fellow new visa signings Victor Campuzano and Piero Quispe are expected to feature prominently at Coopers Stadium on Friday night as the Sky Blues bid to put the disappointment of missing out on Finals Football last campaign behind them.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ADELAIDE UNITED V SYDNEY FC
