Brisbane Roar could make up to two changes to the 16-player squad that lost 4-1 to Western Sydney Wanderers with defenders Jade North and Daniel Bowles passed fit for tomorrow’s Round 23 match against Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
North has struggled with a groin strain since the club’s historic AFC Champions League 1-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan three weeks ago while a stomach illness kept Bowles out of the squad on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Luke Brattan, who played at the centre of defence with stand-in captain Shane Stefanutto against the Wanderers, said it would be a big boost if North started against sixth-placed City tomorrow.
“Jadeo is a tremendous player and he’s big for our team,” he said.
The Roar is still missing four players to international duty with Matt McKay and Luke DeVere away with the Socceroos and Corey Brown and James Donachie in Chinese Taipei with the Australia Under 23s.
With Thomas Broich (ankle), Henrique (knee) and Michael Theo (groin) also not available to play tomorrow, Head Coach Frans Thijssen can select from a host of the club’s younger players like Brandon Borrello, Devante Clut and Lachlan Jackson to fill the void.
“All the older boys have a lot of faith in the younger boys that come in,” Brattan said.
“They train with us every day and when they do come in, they should do a job.
“We expect nothing less than 100 per cent and they’ve proven themselves.”
A win against John van ‘t Schip’s side would still keep Brisbane two points out of the Hyundai A-League top six but with a match in hand.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Melbourne City FC v Brisbane Roar FC
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 7:30pm AEDT (6.30pm AEST)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne, ABC Local Radio VIC, Grandstand Digital (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth), Online / ABC Radio Mobile phone app.
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 5.Erik PAARTALU, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 9.Harry NOVILLO, 10.Robert KOREN, 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 14.James BROWN, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16. Josh KENNEDY, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 18.Paulo RETRE, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (c), 26.Marc MARINO, 27.Kew JALIENS **two to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Harry NOVILLO (returns from illness), 15.David WILLIAMS (returns from injury), 16.Josh KENNEDY (returns from injury)
Outs: 6.Aaron MOOY (international duty), 28.Nick SYMEOY, 34.Stefan ZINNI
Unavailable: 3.Robbie WIELAERT (ankle – 3 weeks), 4.Connor CHAPMAN (suspended – 2 matches), 11.Damien DUFF (ankle/calf – indefinite), 19.Ben GARUCCIO (ankle – 8 weeks), 25.Jacob MELLING (knee – 1-2 weeks), 29.Safuwan BAHARUDIN (international duty)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 2.Jerome POLENZ, 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 4.Adam SAROTA, 6.George LAMBADARIDIS, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.ANDRIJA Kaluderovic, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 16.Devante CLUT, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Lachlan JACKSON, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 34.Shannon BRADY, 36.Fraser CHALMERS (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: 13. Jade NORTH (returns from injury), 14. Daniel BOWLES (returns from illness)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (groin – 1 week), 5.Corey BROWN (international duty), 10.HENRIQUE (knee – 4 weeks), 15.James DONACHIE (international duty), 17.Matt McKAY (international duty), 22.Thomas BROICH (ankle – 1 week), 33.Luke DeVERE (international duty)
