Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson has rated central midfield duo Liam Miller and Jacob Burns as 90% chances to play in Sunday’s semi-final against Melbourne Heart.
Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson has rated central midfield duo Liam Miller and Jacob Burns as 90% chances to play in Sunday’s semi-final against Melbourne Heart.
Both Miller and Burns have been out of action with lingering injuries for several weeks after playing crucial roles in ensuring Perth made the Hyundai A-League finals for just the second time.
Burns hasn’t played since bruising his ribs against Central Coast on March 11, while Miller missed the last five games of the season with a back complaint.
While Ferguson is hugely optimistic those two will play, defensive pair Josh Mitchell (back) and Bas van den Brink (calf) and attacking midfielder Steven McGarry (hamstring) will have to prove their fitness in training over the rest of the week.
The newly re-signed coach, who revealed Mitchell and Miller had taken part in part of training on Tuesday and Burns had completed the full session, said it would be a massive boost to welcome back his regular central midfield partners though.
“It’s very good,” Ferguson said of the chances of Miller and Burns playing in the match at nib Stadium.
“I’d probably say it’s about 90 per cent. The reaction with them will be tomorrow. But I spoke to them both before I came here and they’re happy.”
“[McGarry and van den Brink] are very close. We’ve got a bit of time on our hands because the game’s on Sunday. I don’t want to rush it. If they can come in on Friday or Saturday, then they’ll be considered.”
Burns said the coach was even being somewhat pessimistic with his assessment of him and was confident he could last the full 90 minutes if selected.
“Today is the most I’ve done so I have to wait to see how I pull up tomorrow. But I don’t think anything could keep me out of this final,” the captain said.
“I’m going to say 100% that I’m not going to miss it, but I guess that’s in the hands of the gaffer and the medical staff.”
Like all the players, Burns said he was hugely motivated to perform well against the Heart, but there is even more at stake for Travis Dodd.
The winger has lost all three Grand Finals he has played in Australia – two with Adelaide United in the A-League and one with Parramatta in the NSL – and said that has given him extra fire for this year.
“They said after I lost my first Grand Final that I had to lose one before I could truly appreciate winning one, but it’s happened three times now. I’d like to think the time is now for that to change,” he said.
“Finals in general are a completely different environment and I think that experience can help me this weekend.”
Dodd said the Glory were confident of causing the Heart problems when they attacked but that they were wary of Melbourne’s capabilities going forward.
