NEWS
Carle ready for Rangers
By Talkin Sport Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka is set to give new marquee player Nick Carle his first high-profile run for the club against Rangers on Wednesday, with the Socceroos midfielder hungry for action.
In another boost for the A-League champions' midfield, Stuart Musialik is expected to play his first match since last season's grand final after shrugging off a hip injury.
A hamstring injury has sidelined playmaker Carle from Sydney's last four pre-season fixtures.
He played one low-key game and was injured early in another.
Among the matches Carle missed were against English Premier League side Everton and last Sunday's clash with Greek club AEK Athens in the first round of games in the four-team Festival of Football tournament.
Lavicka said Carle would play part of Wednesday's game but wouldn't confirm whether the recruit would start.
Carle, who was one of the last players cut from Australia's World Cup squad, was keen to get some match practice before Sydney's opening round A-League clash with Melbourne Victory in less than two weeks' time.
"The leg is feeling excellent ... I just need some matches now," Carle told reporters before training on Tuesday.
"It's just a matter of getting some game fitness. I don't think anything compares to that.
"I don't think any sort of running compares to match practice, so from a player's point of view I really need to get some game time under my belt before the season."
Ideally, Carle said he would like to play just behind the two strikers, but would fulfil whatever role the coach required.
Lavicka indicated he might grant his prize recruit his wish.
"He is able to play this position, he possibly will," Lavicka told AAP.
"There's no pressure for Nick. We are happy that Nick is back, because he was injured and upset, because he was very keen to help the team."
Lavicka said he would probably give 198cm Senegalese striker and Sydney triallist Ibrahima Thiam playing time in both Wednesday's game and the final match of the tournament against English club Blackburn on Saturday.
Thiam came off the bench to score in the 5-3 loss to AEK.
Lavicka said he was looking for an improved defensive performance.
Blackburn, who lost 2-1 to Rangers in the first round of the tournament, play AEK in the first game of Wednesday's double-header.
|
| Share
|
|
|
|
|
