Melbourne has included injured strikers Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse in its extended squad for Sunday’s second leg of the Hyundai A-League major semi final against Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The club confirmed on Thursday that Thompson, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot, and Kruse, who missed the first leg with an ankle injury, would fly to Sydney with the team and be given until match day to prove they are fit to take on the Sky Blues.
Victory football operations manager Gary Cole was far from optimistic about the prospect of the pair playing earlier in the week, but with Nik Mrdja to miss this match through suspension, the club is keeping its options open.
Young stars Nathan Elasi and Mate Dugandzic have also been included in the extended squad and one of them is likely to get the nod should neither Kruse or Thompson come up.
Dugandzic scored two goals in the 6-1 romp over Brisbane in the National Youth League last week in his best performance since he was sidelined with a knee injury in February.
The 20-year-old scored two goals in his Hyundai A-League starting debut against Adelaide in October but has struggled to break back into the senior team and has not played a Hyundai A-League game since the 3-2 defeat to Newcastle in January.
Melbourne is faced with two games in three days, with the home Asian Champions League match against Seongnam Ilhwa scheduled for Tuesday, giving Victory just 48 hours to back up from the crucial match against Sydney which will decide who will host the Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
