Things are looking up for the injury plagued Western Sydney Wanderers, with key players Mateo Poljak and Mark Bridge returning to training this week ahead of the club’s Friday night clash against Melbourne City.
The culmination of a congested schedule and a lengthy injury list that includes Matthew Spiranovic, Shannon Cole, Brendon Santalab, Brendan Hamill, Golgol Mebrahtu, Antony Golec and Nick Ward has played a significant part in the Wanderers’ horror season.
The Western Sydney club is second last on the A-League table, and with only three wins to its name is fighting the lowly Newcastle Jets to avoid wooden spoon honours.
However, the return of midfielders Bridge and Poljak will bring a welcome reprieve for coach Tony Popovic, and could be surprise inclusions for the match against the visiting Melbourne City.
“Mateo and Bridgey trained with the group for the first time yesterday, so it will be interesting to see today if they can back up a second session,” confirmed Popovic.
“Spira [Matthew Spiranovic] is still with the rehab group, so we hope to have him back at some point next week training with the team.
“Slowly, the players are coming back from injury and soon we should have a lot more players available for selection.”
Popovic will also have access to striker Tomi Juric, who has arrived back in Sydney after cameos against Germany and Macedonia for the Socceroos. The same cannot be said for 19-year-old Jaushua Sotirio, who has returned home injured after scoring a long-range stunner for the Olyroos against Chinese Taipei.
“He’s training this morning, and he looks in good spirits. He’s come off a long flight, but he didn’t play many minutes in the last two games, so physically he should be fine,” Popovic said of Juric.
“Josh Sotirio is back as well, but unfortunately he comes back with an injury, so we won’t be able to use him this weekend.”
The Wanderers have had mixed results of late, thrashing a depleted Brisbane Roar 4-1 midweek but losing 3-2 to Perth Glory after a later Josh Risdon strike last Saturday night.
Popovic blames missed chances and a lack of defensive discipline for the loss against Perth.
“We are creating opportunities, and against Brisbane we put them away. The margin could have been greater.
“Against Perth unfortunately we probably created even better chances, in particular at 1-1.
“Then Perth went to the other end and scored from a corner. We have to take responsibility and say that our defending from set plays wasn’t to the level that is required. Perth, it’s a real strength of theirs and they punished us there.
“But with the chances we created, we certainly believe that we are on the right track going forward.”
Melbourne City have never won a game on Wanderers home turf, but will travel to Pirtek Stadium high in confidence. A finals spot is all but confirmed for John van’t Schip’s side, with the club sitting in sixth place and a five point buffer separating it from the seventh placed Brisbane Roar.
The return of ex-Wanderer and star midfielder Aaron Mooy from national team duties will also bolster the Melbourne club’s hopes of extending its three match winning streak.
Nevertheless, Popovic warns that no A-League club should underestimate the ninth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers.
“They are doing very well, they have won three consecutive games. They are in the [top] six and I’m sure they want to stay there, so they will come fully focused.
“If you look at our performances in the last few weeks, you can see how determined we are to finish the season strong as a club. We go to every game believing we can win.
“The top sides might feel that it’s possibly a game where they should get three points but if they take us lightly then I am certain they won’t get that result.”
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