Midfielder George Lambadaridis says he has matured as a player and is ready to take on more responsibility in any opportunities he gets in his second stint with the Roar.
The 23-year-old has signed a two-month contract as an injury replacement for Henrique, who is still in rehab following his knee reconstruction earlier this year.
Lambadaridis, whose Roar contract was not extended earlier this year, has seen game time as a trialist in the club’s last two pre-season games against the PS4NPLQLD Under-23 All-Stars and the Newcastle Jets.
He is expect to be in the squad again when the Roar travel to the Sunshine Coast to play Central Coast Mariners in their final pre-season match on Saturday (7pm kick off).
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“It is fantastic to get my career back on track,” Lambadaridis said today.
“I have been very well received by the boys since I got back. I am very grateful for the opportunity the club has given me and feel I am ready to take on the responsibility to help the team be as successful as we can this year.
“The season is only two weeks away I want to be part of it come round one. My goal is to work hard and get into the first-team and then everything else will look after itself after that.”
Lambadaridis first joined the Roar in 2012 after a stint in the Club Brugge youth academy in Belgium. He was previously with Victorian club Oakleigh Cannons.
He has played eight Hyundai A-League games for the Roar across three years 2012, 2013 and 2015 – punctuated by a horrific knee injury in 2014 sustained while playing a pre-season game at Albany Creek.
Interestingly, Lambadaridis has been in Roar squads for all three of the club’s AFC Champions League campaigns and earned plaudits in the final two rounds of the last Hyundai A-League season when he filled in at left back as injuries and the hectic game schedule took its toll on Roar defenders.
Lambadaridis also got 10 minutes off the bench during a recent trial with Melbourne City in their off-season friendly with sister club Manchester City.
Brisbane Roar Head Coach John Aloisi has been using Lambadaridis primarily as a No.6 in recent weeks. He says Lambadaridis has worked hard during the trial period and the next two months is the chance for him to further impress.
“George has done quite well considering he hasn’t played a lot of football and has showed some good signs,” Aloisi said.
