Perth Glory Youth will finally start to resemble the side Coach Gareth Naven had planned with the injury hit outfit welcoming back five players for Saturday’s clash against the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Perth Glory Youth will finally start to resemble the side Coach Gareth Naven had planned with the injury hit outfit welcoming back five players for Saturday-s clash against the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Glory was without 11 of their 16 contracted players last weekend, leaving the side desperately short on numbers. Despite drafting in replacements Perth was forced to play their match against Gold Coast with just one outfield substitute on the bench.
Saturday-s match though is a different proposition with experienced pair Dean Evans and Reece Vittiglia returning alongside Australian representative Cameron Edwards, while rookies Sam Mitchinson and Josh Risdon will play their first game of the season.
Last season-s top scorer, Anthony Skorich, who is now a senior listed player for Perth, is also set to take to the field after shaking off a long run of injuries that has plagued him since playing a starring role for the youngsters in their 2008/09 campaign.
Glory-s Youth Team physiotherapist, Sarah Cunningham, has had her work cut out this season and is delighted that the majority of the side is again ready for action.
“Injuries are an unfortunate thing that all clubs have to deal with but the problem was compounded for us when a significant portion of our playing group sustained them over roughly the same period,” Cunningham said.
“We have been careful in managing their recovery and, if anything, we have been more cautious because we want to ensure they don-t suffer any relapse. Our primary concern is to get them healthy and give them the best opportunity to spend as much time as they can on the pitch.”
Perth fans can keep up to date with all the action by tuning-in to 990am Information Radio where host Ashley Morrison will bring you a play by play description of Perth Glory-s match against the AIS.
National Youth League 2009/10 – Rd 7
Australian Institute of Sport v Perth Glory
Saturday 24 October at McKellar Park, McKellar ACT
Kick-off: 10:00am (AWST)
Referee: Gary Vandeburgt
AIS Squad: Mustafa AMINI, Eli BABALJ, Christopher BUSH, Patrick DIXON, Stephen DOMENICI, Curtis GOOD, Brendan HAMILL, Kamal IBRAHIM, Ersin KAYA, Aaron LENNOX, Damir Lokvancic, Jared LUM, Scott MELLISH, Aaron PETERSON, Trent SAINSBURY, Nikola STANOJEVIC, Lawrence THOMAS
*three to be omitted*
Unavailable: Marc WARREN (foot – indefinite), Sam GALLAWAY (knee – indefinite), Terry ANTONIS (knee – to be determined)
Perth Glory Squad: Clayton ARNEZ, Ludovic BOI, Jack CLIZBY, Million BUTSHIIRE, Tim DOYLE (gk), Cameron EDWARDS, Ryan EDWARDS, Dean EVANS, Steve HESKETH, Sam MITCHINSON, Alex PEARSON (gk), Joshua RISDON, Anthony SKORICH, Glen TRIFIRO, Reece VITTIGLIA
Unavailable: Hayden DOYLE (knee – indefinite), Nick FEELY (study commitments), Mario MARCINKO (indefinite), David PRICE (knee – 4 weeks), Ryan PEARSON (foot – 2 weeks), Adam TAGGART (groin – 1 week)
