Victory call on star recruits in ALW derby

Melbourne Victory will unleash star signings Lynn Williams and Alex Chidiac in their blockbuster A-League Women derby against Melbourne City.

United States forward Williams signed last week but her international clearance didn’t come through in time to face Adelaide United first-up.

She and fringe Matildas midfielder Chidiac, who joined on-loan this week from JEF United Chiba, are both set to debut at AAMI Park on Sunday.

The pair’s involvement has softened the blow of losing skipper Kayla Morrison for the season with a ruptured ACL suffered in the 5-1 win over Adelaide.

Coach Jeff Hopkins hailed Morrison’s ability to put her own disappointment behind her and rally her teammates, and noted Williams and Chidiac had provided a timely “boost” ahead of the derby.

“(Williams is) all about the team. Even talking about the game this week: ‘play me wherever you want to play me, play me for as long as you want to play me and I’ll do whatever it takes to do what I need to do for the team’,” Hopkins said.

“There’s real professionalism there and it’s had a really positive effect on the rest of the group.

“Chids is the same. She knows quite a few of the girls, which is great. But she’s just slipped in like she’d been there for years and into our formation work, into our tactical work, she was great.

“Both of them have brought a fair bit this week and I’m confident that they’ll both play important parts on Sunday.”

Matildas defender Courtney Nevin has recovered from hamstring soreness and is among the options to replace Morrison at centre-back, but Melina Ayres (hamstring) is touch-and-go to feature.

The game is a standalone affair at AAMI Park, with both clubs relishing the big stage.

“I’m expecting a really tight game,” Hopkins said.

“(City have) recruited really well, looking a lot stronger than they were last year.

“We’re really looking forward to the game because we love the derbies. It’s a big, big game for us.”

City coach Rado Vidosic doesn’t have any immediate plans of bolstering his squad after an opening-round win over Canberra United, but relished the opportunity to play more games at AAMI Park this season.

“It’s a benefit for our code, it’s a benefit for female football in this country and I think it’s unbelievable,” he said.

“The players can’t wait to get on and start the game.”