Melbourne City head coach Michael Matricciani has confirmed full-back Tyla-Jay Vlajnic is set to miss the trip to Gosford to take on Central Coast Mariners on New Year’s Eve.
Vlajnic suffered a minor hamstring in Saturday’s 2-1 Ninja A-League win over Wellington Phoenix and is set for scans this week to determine the extent of the damage – but Matricciani is hopeful the injury is a minor one and hopes the experienced defender will only be out for one-to-two weeks.
“She pulled up with her hamstring a little bit tight a couple of days ago in the Wellington match,” Matricciani said. “So we’re getting a scan later this afternoon to find out exactly what is happening there, and how long she’ll be out for.
“But we don’t think it’s too bad, so hopefully its one week to two (week) injury and we can get her back in. Everyone else is fit and ready to go.”
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City travel to face the Mariners in the first game of a double-header between the clubs at Industree Group Stadium on Tuesday night. Currently on top of the Ninja A-League table on 20 points, Matricciani’s side will look to end 2024 as the only undefeated team in the competition following a blistering start to the season, having registered six wins and two draws from eight games.
In a comeback 2-1 win over Wellington in Round 8, Matricciani gave more than half an hour of game time to CommBank Matildas winger Holly McNamara off the bench as the City star continued her careful return to match play following the third anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of her young career suffered in November, 2023.
McNamara has now made three consecutive bench appearances with her minutes increasing on each occasion but Matricciani is not willing to take any chances with the 22-year-old, confirming she is unlikely to receive a starting berth until next month.
“Probably not yet, I would say mid-January, we’re probably feeling that’s maybe the time when (she) might be ready for a start,” he said.
“She’s missed a lot of football and we’re trying to build up her base. I think what she’s giving us off the bench is outstanding, and we keep training in the training weeks that we do have the ability to build some load into her. I think she’s coming along quite nicely and making a really nice impact off the bench for us.
“I would say come maybe the Brisbane (January 11) or Western (United) game (January 17) in mid-Jan is when probably she’ll be ready to put her hand up to play 60-70 minutes from the start.”
City travel to Gosford on Tuesday night to take on a Mariners outfit that returned to form in Round 8 with a 1-0 road win over Perth Glory.
Emily Husband’s side snapped a two-game losing streak with their triumph over Perth and sit fifth on the Ninja A-League table heading into the New Year’s Eve clash, but will be without American defender Brianne Riley whose contract was mutually terminated on Monday.
The 24-year-old American will return home to the United States due to medical reasons.
“While it is unfortunate that Brianne has needed to return to America early for medical reasons, we thank her for her time with us and wish her nothing but the very best for the future,” said head coach Emily Husband.
“With a number of important fixtures right around the corner, our full focus is firmly on securing a positive result tomorrow afternoon against Melbourne City.”
READ MORE: Central Coast Mariners announce ‘unfortunate’ departure of American defender
Tuesday, 4:15pm (AEDT): Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City
Industree Group Stadium – Paramount+ / 10 Play
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Central Coast Mariners squad: 1 Sarah LANGMAN, 3. Ash IRWIN, 4. Jessika NASH, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 7. Jade PENNOCK, 8. Bianca GALIC, 10. Taylor RAY, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Tiana FULLER, 13. Sarah ROWE, 14. Greta KRASZULA, 16. Tess QUILLIGAN, 19. Leia PUXTY, 20. Chloe CARMICHAEL, 21. Brooke NUNN, 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lily MCMAHON, 24. Shay EVANS
Ins: 14. Greta KRASZULA, 23. Lily MCMAHON,
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne City squad: 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly McNAMARA, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 11. Emilia MURRAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 14. Laura HUGHES, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Malena MIERES (GK)
In: 11. Emilia MURRAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 15. Kiera MEYERS (all promoted)
Out: 27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC (hamstring)
Unavailable: 20. Caitlin KARIC (hamstring)
