Adelaide assistant coach Michael Valkanis has confirmed Dario Vidosic is fit for the Reds’ AFC Champions League quarter-final.
Adelaide United assistant coach Michael Valkanis has confirmed marquee midfielder Dario Vidosic is fit to start in the Reds’ AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bunyodkor at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Vidosic suffered a hamstring strain in Adelaide’s trial match with the Central Coast Mariners last week and was rated only a 50 per cent chance of facing the reigning Uzbek league champions by coach John Kosmina on Monday.
However the 25-year-old was a full participant in training on Tuesday and is now expected to line-up in the first leg.
Valkanis, who will take the reins for the Reds while Kosmina still awaits his mandatory FIFA A Licence, said there would be no risks in starting Vidosic.
“Dario did well at training and did a little more than what we expected as well, so he’s ready to go,” Valkanis said.
“He took part in all the possession play and in the passing (drills), shapes and formations.
“He was switching the ball, playing short and longer passes and moving quite well and comfortably.
“The medicos said he could be out of training, but there was no problem… Dario said he was 100 per cent.
“You generally listen to a player like Dario, he’s been around long enough, he’s an experienced player and he was quite confident of being ready to go.”
Bunyodkor are a familiar foe for Adelaide with the sides having met in the group stage of this year’s ACL.
The teams settled for a 0-0 draw at Hindmarsh last time they met in May while the Reds snatched a 2-1 victory away in Tashkent in their opening clash of Group E back in March.
The duo also famously squared off in the knockout stages of the 2008 tournament when Adelaide triumphed 3-1 on aggregate in the last four to progress to the final.
With home ground advantage to utilise in the first leg, Valkanis said it was imperative United attack the game for maximum points ahead of tough return leg in Uzbekistan on October 3.
“We definitely want to win – we don’t want to sit back,” Valkanis said.
“It’s a good opportunity at home for us to be able to get away with a good win because during that time (before the second leg) Bunyodkor will have to play roughly three games in nine days.
“It’s going to be hard over there (Tashkent) … it gets hostile and is quite tough traveling all the way there.
“It’s important to get a good result on Wednesday.”
While Bunyodkor are in the middle of their 2012 Uzbek League, sitting top of the table by one point, Adelaide have only enjoyed a series of friendlies since their round-of-16 knockout clash with Nagoya Grampus in late May.
Adelaide skipper and goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic said that despite his side lacking match sharpness, they were raring to play.
“We’ve had a long, intensive pre-season and the only difference is, is that they have played 20-odd games in their domestic season and will be match hardened,” Galekovic said.
“We’ve only played four or five practice games – even though they’ve been good – they’re still practice games.
“But the boys will be hungry, it’s our home ground, we want a result, we want to win, keep a clean sheet and you’ll see us coming out to play.”
Adelaide’s only injury concern is Jon McKain who will miss the next 10 days after copping a knock to his knee in training.
Argentine Jeronimo Neumann has been cleared to play and will feature at some point off the bench, according to Valkanis.
