Former Brazilian International Amaral will be eligible to play for Perth Glory in their blockbuster home clash against reigning Hyundai A-League Champions Melbourne Victory on Friday night after completing his registration as a guest player for the West Australian club.
Former Brazilian International Amaral will be eligible to play for Perth Glory in their blockbuster home clash against reigning Hyundai A-League Champions Melbourne Victory on Friday night after completing his registration as a guest player for the West Australian club.
Amaral played seven matches for Perth last season and showed his match winning class before injury cut short his campaign. The vastly experienced midfielder, who has played 31 times for Brazil, was determined to return to the club and complete what he started and could be given that opportunity from as early as tomorrow night.
“I wanted to finish the job I started last year because it was disappointing for me not to be able to play and help the club like I wanted to do,” Amaral said.
“I love the city and the club environment and felt like I needed to repay the team, the manger and the fans for their faith in me last season.”
The midfielder paid his own way back to Perth and has trained with the club for the past fortnight in a bid to win a guest stint. He has been put through an exhaustive series of fitness tests and has passed with flying colours.
“I-m ready to go and very motivated. I feel fresh, even better than I did when I first arrived here last year,” Amaral said.
“The reception has been great, the team has made me feel very welcome and I think the team this year has big potential. There is a strong squad and I think I can complement the players that are already here.”
Amaral has been named in an extended Glory squad to play against Melbourne and Coach Dave Mitchell is contemplating his options of whether to tinker with a winning formula after Perth notched an impressive win against Newcastle at home last weekend.
“Amaral is an option now, the team did well last week and we-ve got those guys available but he-s an addition that could strengthen the side if we needed,” Mitchell said.
“He has looked good in training and it-s a situation where we-ll make a decision that will best benefit the team and I-m still throwing up whether or not to put him in the mix.
“He has an infectious character, he-s bubbly, a good guy and great player. He felt that the club and fans didn-t get the best from him last season and he wanted to come back and help the team achieve our goals this season and I-m sure he will be able to do that,” said Mitchell.
Hyundai A-League – Rd 4
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
Friday, 28 August 2009 at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 8.00pm (Gates open 6.00pm)
Referee: Chris Beath
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Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 4.Andy TODD, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 8.Victor SIKORA, 10.Wayne SRHOJ, 11.Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 14.Eugene DADI, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 24.Matthew MAYORA, 25.AMARAL
*three to be omitted*
In: Scott BULLOCH (promoted), Eugene DADI (promoted), AMARAL (promoted – guest player)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Jamie COYNE (knee – 2 weeks), Jimmy DOWNEY (knee – 4 weeks), Jamie HARNWELL (hamstring – 1 week), Anthony SKORICH (hip – 5 weeks)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 5.Surat SUKHA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS (c), 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Matthew FOSCHINI, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Nick WARD
In: Matthew FOSCHINI (promoted)
Out: Evan BERGER (groin – 2 weeks)
Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (hamstring – 2 weeks)
*Head-to-Head: Played 12: Perth Glory wins 4, Melbourne Victory wins 4, Drawn 4
