Brisbane Roar Football Club has welcomed goalkeeper Matthew Acton back to the club as an injury replacement for Michael Theo, who broke his wrist in training two weeks ago.
Townsville-born Acton, who spent seven years at the Roar before a mutual parting in May, has just finished a stint in Myanmar where he played 14 matches and helped Yangon United to second in the Myanmar National League.
Theo is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks, opening the door for the 22-year-old to join Jamie Young in the club’s goalkeeper ranks ahead of the start of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season.
Head Coach Mike Mulvey said despite the unfortunate injury to the five-time Hyundai A-League winner Theo, he was pleased to welcome Acton back to the Queensland club.
“Matt has just spent almost a full season playing football overseas, he’s match fit and in good shape so he’s a great injury replacement player to have in our squad,” Mulvey said.
“I think it also says a lot about the relationship between club and player to see him come back when we were in need of another goalkeeper.”
Acton arrived back in Brisbane on Thursday and re-joined his former teammates for training over the weekend with the young gloveman looking forward to working under Mulvey and the club’s goalkeeper coach Jason Kearton once more.
The Queensland Academy of Sport product made two appearances for Brisbane Roar in the 2013/14 season while Theo was ruled out with a shoulder injury and was the 100th player to appear for the club.
“I’m happy to be back – the timing worked out well with the league in Myanmar finishing two weeks ago,” Acton said.
“Obviously everyone loves to be able to represent for their home town club and to come back to a place I’m very familiar with, that made the decision a lot easier.”
Brisbane Roar begin their Hyundai A-League 2014/15 campaign on Sunday, 12 October at home to Adelaide United.
Tickets for the match, including the Westfield W-League curtain raiser between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, are available from Ticketek.
