The North Queensland Fury has promoted speedster David Williams to the starting side for their grudge match with fellow newcomer Gold Coast United at Skilled Park.
It is one of two changes Fury Coach Ian Ferguson has made to the run-on side from last week-s loss to Sydney FC.
Newly signed Qantas Socceroos’ defender Shane Stefanutto makes his way into the side at left back while Williams will slot into the right-side attack.
Dutch striker Dyron Daal has been dropped and Kojiro Kaimoto moves to the bench.
Twenty-one-year-old Williams showed plenty of spark when he was injected into the Sydney game late in the second half but the coach wants even more.
“I think David has to concentrate a bit more on his final ball,” Ferguson said of the one-time Australian national junior.
“Everything else has been great, his work rate, getting up and down the wing, taking people on. I think it’s just his distribution, that final thud, he’s got to be a bit more deadly in that area so we make that pass count and hope that Fowler can get on the end of it,” he said.
Ferguson though, is wary of putting too much pressure on Williams’ young shoulders.
“He-s a young kid and I just think expectations sometimes are too high on him, he’s just coming back from overseas, he’s got to adapt to the weather, he’s got to adapt to the A-League.”
But the speedy striker says he just needs the chance to prove he’s got the goods.
“It’s what you play football for, you don’t play to sit on the bench the whole time…I would love a permanent starting position.”
“I know I’m capable of it, I just have to get some game time to get the confidence I need and just get back into the flow of things and I’m sure it will kick off from there,” Williams said.
Meanwhile the club’s confident there will be no teething problems when slotting Stefanutto straight into the defensive line up.
“He knows the game, he’s played it I think for the last 10 or 15 years,” Ferguson said.
“He’s experienced and that’s the good thing, I’m not bringing in a rookie player … I have no problems with that at all. I”ve seen a few tapes of him playing and he’s exactly what we’re looking for.”