Perth Glory defender Chris Coyne is fit and ready to return to the squad this weekend after missing two weeks with a back injury.
Perth Glory defender Chris Coyne is fit and ready to return to the squad this weekend after missing two weeks with a back injury.
As Perth faces the tough task of a Queensland double, swinging to the sunshine state twice in two weeks, the Socceroo-s come back is timely for this Sunday-s crucial match against Gold Coast at Skilled Park.
“The injury is all clear. I had to have an epidural to speed up the recovery process. We-ve only got nine games left and I felt it imperative that I didn-t miss any more than I had to.
“Apart from being slightly undercooked after having two weeks off, I-m ready and raring to go against Gold Coast,” Coyne said.
Coyne, who jarred his back after an awkward landing in Perth-s match with the Central Coast Mariners, says he isn-t one for watching on the sidelines and was desperate to get back on the park.
“I-m one of the worst watchers ever. People think it-s easy in the stands when you-re watching your teammates play but it-s really frustrating not being out there,” Coyne said.
“The positive is that we-ve outplayed Gold Coast both times. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix up between two of the players which resulted in a fortunate goal for them and we felt a bit hard done by after that,” Coyne said.
That particular blunder saw Jamie Coyne and Scott Neville collide while trying to clear a speculative long ball, allowing Shane Smeltz to score from close range.
“It was disappointing but our overall performance at both games is a real positive and a huge part of what we-ve been focussing on at training,” says Coyne.
After their loss to the Fury last week, Coyne says Perth is far better than some of their performances this season and will be out there on Sunday to prove it.
“You-ve only got to look around the dressing room and pretty much everyone is fit and ready and raring to go. With the squad we-ve got we know we should be up where Melbourne is.”
“We feel we-ve underperformed. If we win the next two games, we-ve got over the festive period and it could take us into the top three or four and that-s where we belong.”
Hyundai A-League 2009/10 – Rd 20
Gold Coast United v Perth Glory
Sunday, 20 December 2009 at Skilled Park, Robina
Local kick-off: 4.00pm AWST
Referee: Chris Beath
Perth Glory Radio Broadcast Partner: 6PR – 882am www.6pr.com.au – click here to listen.
Television Broadcast – Live & exclusive on Fox Sports 2 and Sky Sports 1.
Gold Coast United Squad: 1.Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Matt OSMAN, 18.James BROWN, 19.Andrew BARISIC, 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk), 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 24.ANDERSON, 34.Charlie MILLER.
*three to be omitted*
In: Joel PORTER (return from knee injury), James BROWN (promoted), Adama TRAORE (return from knee injury).
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Daniel PIORKOWSKI (ankle injury – indefinite), ROBSON (knee injury – 3 weeks), JEFFERSON (knee injury – indefinite)
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Jimmy DOWNEY, 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 8.Victor SIKORA, 10.Wayne SRHOJ, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC
*two to be omitted*
In: Chris COYNE (return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Brent GRIFFITHS (hamstring – 1 week), Branko JELIC (ankle – 1 week), Anthony SKORICH (foot – 5 weeks)
