Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith has passed a fitness test and has traveled south for his side’s Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 match against Adelaide United but goalkeeper Michael Theo has been left behind following an injury sustained at training this morning.
Head Coach Mike Mulvey confirmed the news to the media before the squad left Brisbane for the South Australian capital, naming recent signing Jamie Young as Theo’s replacement in goal.
Smith missed the club’s double header against Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane City 10 days ago and also sat out of last Wednesday’s behind-closed-doors training game against Palm Beach Sharks, in which Brisbane prevailed 9-0.
The Roar skipper has been named in the squad to contest the Round of 16 match, winner of which will progress to the quarter-finals of the inaugural knock-out competition.
“Matty is okay, he passed [the fitness test] with flying colours so he’ll travel with us,” Mulvey said.
“He had a tightening of the groin area just over about a week ago but he’s trained strongly and we’re not risking anyone in this game… Theo will stay behind, we’re not risking anyone.”
With Mulvey’s men hosting Josep Gombau and his Reds side in round one of the upcoming Hyundai A-League campaign in less than three weeks, Mulvey said tomorrow’s Westfield FFA Cup clash would be timely preparation for their 2014/15 league ambitions as well.
“Absolutely, it’s a really important game and we’re really looking forward to it,” the Roar boss said.
“The FFA Cup is a really important competition and we’re fortunate enough to be in the next round – we won our first round against Stirling [Lions] away.
“We’re playing them in the first game of the season so it gives us an insight into them and us to them as well.”
Brisbane-born Young played almost 250 matches during a 13 year stint in England before returning home earlier this pre-season to sign for the three-time Hyundai A-League Champions.
He played in the Townsville Football Cup last month but tomorrow night will be the 29-year-old’s competitive debut for Brisbane Roar.
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh (SA)
Kick-off: 7.00pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Shaun Evans
Coverage details: LIVE updates on FOX SPORTS 3 and 3HD
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALKOVIC (GK) (c), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 7.Pablo SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 15.Ben WARLAND, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS
Brisbane Roar squad: 2.Matt SMITH (c), 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (GK), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS
