Brisbane Roar midfielder Matt McKay expects his good friend and former team mate Massimo Murdocca to receive a generous reception when he returns to Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Brisbane Roar midfielder Matt McKay expects his good friend and former team mate Massimo Murdocca to receive a generous reception when he returns to Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
After 162 games for the Roar, including two Hyundai A-League Championship victories, Murdocca signed a two year deal with the Melbourne Heart in the off-season.
While Murdocca will appear in enemy colours this Sunday, McKay believes his former midfield companion will be warmly welcomed by the Roar supporters.
“I think he will be the first player in history to come back and be applauded for what he has done,” McKay said.
“He-s a great player, but more importantly he is a great guy”.
“The Den respects him and I-m sure he-ll get some support on the weekend.”
Murdocca said that while he is looking forward to returning to Brisbane, he wouldn-t lose focus of the real task at hand.
“I-m going to enjoy the experience, it-s the first time I-ve played against my old team,” Murdocca said.
“I have a lot of respect for the boys and they have a lot of respect for me.
“But it-s just another game at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, Roar Head Coach Mike Mulvey has thrown his support behind the club-s younger players, insisting that his squad has the depth to cover for the injured Shane Stefanutto (hamstring), Besart Berisha (hamstring) and Liam Miller (calf).
“The issue of depth is always going to be a question that people will ask,” Mulvey said.
“But I am very comfortable and very confident with the group of players we have here”.
“We-ve got a strong team on the field on Sunday and I have every bit of faith in the players who wear the orange shirt.”
Murdocca said that the Melbourne Heart would look to capitalise from Brisbane-s injury toll.
“It-s a massive positive for us for sure,” he said.
“We have a few injuries ourselves, but definitely not as much as them, and we-re going to use that for sure.”
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Heart
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:00pm Brisbane time
Referee: Lucien Laverdure
Tickets: http://bit.ly/Maaaate
