Brisbane Roar could welcome club captain Matt McKay and German playmaker Thomas Broich into the match day squad for tonight’s Hyundai A-League Round 24 match against Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium (7pm kick-off).
Matt McKay, along with defender Luke DeVere, has been away on Socceroos duty since early last week, missing Hyundai A-League fixtures against Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City.
DeVere made his senior Australia debut in the 2-2 draw against world champions Germany last Wednesday and is unlikely to feature against the Mariners but McKay is a chance at being named in the match day squad.
Neither DeVere nor McKay featured in the Socceroos squad for the 0-0 draw with FYR Macedonia on Tuesday morning (Australian time) but only arrived back from Europe very late last night.
The Roar skipper has backed up from international duty and travel in the past and most recently, played for Brisbane against Wellington Phoenix just two days after winning the AFC Asian Cup with Australia at the end of January.
“He’ll be available, it might just be how he pulls up,” teammate Jade North said.
“Whether he comes off the bench or starts, we’ll have to see.”
Broich hasn’t played since the 5-4 loss to Sydney FC two and a half weeks ago but has trained twice this week while his minor ankle injury been monitored on a match-by-match basis by the club’s medical staff.
North said both McKay and Broich would be welcome additions to the squad if named by coach Frans Thijssen in the 16-player squad.
“Thomas is a good professional and knows how to keep himself fit off the park,” he said.
“If they are options tomorrow, that’ll be great for us – a massive boost.”
James Donachie and Corey Brown, part of the Olyroos squad that recorded three straight wins in a qualifying tournament for the AFC U23 Championship in Chinese Taipei this week, only arrive back in Brisbane today.
In other news, goalkeeper Michael Theo is close to full fitness and is a possible inclusion in the Roar squad that will leave for away matches against South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings and Adelaide United next week.
