Wanderers to announce third January signing as Stajcic issues injury update: ‘You’ll find out soon’

Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Alen Stajcic confirmed the club has made a third January signing having already completed deals for both Alex Gersbach and Jarrod Carluccio.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Wanderers’ 3-1 home defeat to Central Coast Mariners, Stajcic told reporters the club has wrapped up a deal for a third recruit in as many days – believed to be another defender.

“We’ve got one more that we’ve signed that’ll be announced shortly. So we’ve got three at the moment, and then, yeah, we’ll look beyond that as well. You’ll find out soon.”

On Wednesday the Wanderers announced the signing of six-time Soccceroo Gersbach who returns to Australia having spent nine years away from the A-Leagues.

Furthermore, 23-year-old Carluccio then returned to Western Sydney on a long-term deal having most recently cut-ties with Perth Glory.

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Carluccio was thrown straight into the starting line-up for the clash at CommBank Stadium and got through 72 minutes on his second debut before being replaced by Juan Mata.

Goals from Alou Kuol and Ryan Edmondson had put Central Coast Mariners in a commanding position in Western Sydney before a first Isuzu UTE A-League goal for James Temelkovski brought the home side back into the game.

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However the away side then sealed the win with a brilliant breakaway goal scored by Mikael Doka in the 94th minute, with the result leaving the Wanderers sat in 8th place on the ladder and three points outside the top six.

What will be of concern for head coach Stajcic is the fact that, despite being the joint-top scorers in the league alongside Sydney FC with 29 goals, the Wanderers now have the third worst defence in the competition, conceding 26 goals in 13 matches.

Furthermore, with South Korean central defence Tae-wook Jeong set to miss another month’s worth of football, Stajcic will be hoping his new recruits can help the side tighten up at the back.

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“Look, he’s only just come back to Australia,” said Stajcic when asked for an update on the fitness of Jeong who has been sidelined since November with an ankle injury.

“I’d say he’s still three or four weeks away from being able to train fully.’

Asked when he can expect Gersbach to be fit and ready for selection, Stajcic conceded it may be a while before fans get a glimpse of their new left back.

“Yeah, he arrives on Sunday, so he’s come off an off season, so it’s going to take him time, obviously, to get match fit and get up to speed with playing.

“He hasn’t played for a while or been in full training, so it’s not as if he can just come in and play 90 minutes straight away, so that’ll take time.

“But you know, obviously, we’re looking forward to getting him out there and being part of the squad.”