Melbourne City has confirmed our squad set to travel to Gosford for Saturday’s Isuzu UTE A-League clash against the Central Coast Mariners.
City returns to domestic action full of confidence after a stirring 2-0 win over Johor Darul Ta’zim in Tuesday night’s AFC Champions League Elite fixture.
Goals to Academy products Max Caputo and Medin Memeti bookended a resilient defensive performance to secure our third consecutive win in Asia – a first in the Club’s AFC history and the first time an Australian side has achieved the feat in Asia’s top-tier competition since 2016.
Following a well-earned day off on Wednesday, Aurelio Vidmar’s men were back on the pitch at the City Football Academy on Thursday as focus shifted firmly to the Mariners. With another busy period ahead, the Head Coach has named a strengthened extended squad for the trip to Gosford.
There are three inclusions from our last ALM matchday squad, headlined by the return of Socceroo Kai Trewin. After missing last Friday’s league fixture due to his late arrival back from international duty, Trewin slotted straight back into the XI midweek and impressed across the 90 minutes against Johor.
Fellow defender Samuel Souprayen also returns to the A-League squad. The experienced Frenchman was an unused substitute on Tuesday as he continues to build match fitness after recovering from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the past month.
20-year-old midfielder Emin Durakovic is the third addition to the squad, available again after missing our last two fixtures with a minor niggle.
Round 6 ALM Squad
1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 17. Max CAPUTO, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Ben MAZZEO, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 38. Beckham BAKER, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 44. Besian KUTLESHI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
In: 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN (returns from injury), 27. Kai TREWIN (returns from international duty), 39. Emin DURAKOVIC (returns from injury).
Out: 53. Angus MACKINTOSH (omitted).
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 11. Elbasan RASHANI (hamstring), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON (hamstring), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (ankle), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (ACL), 41. Lawrence WONG (MCL), 46. Akeem GERALD (international duty).
