Melbourne City has confirmed our squads for a busy weekend across the A-Leagues.
Aurelio Vidmar’s side opens the weekend on Saturday evening at McDonald Jones Stadium against the Newcastle Jets, beginning an extended road stint that will continue into next week’s AFC Champions League Elite trip to Seoul.
Attention will then turn to the City Football Academy on Sunday as Michael Matricciani’s squad resumes domestic duties following an undefeated AWCL Group Stage campaign and a lengthy break between Ninja A-League fixtures.
There’s plenty of positive squad news for City fans this week. Vidmar’s men welcome back both Nathaniel Atkinson and Elbasan Rashani, who have been named after overcoming their respective hamstring injuries.
Rashani is in line for his first minutes since scoring his maiden City goal in the dramatic come-from-behind ACL Elite win over Buriram United more than six weeks ago, while Atkinson also looks set to return after nearly a month on the sidelines.
The extended squad is further boosted by Ben Mazzeo, who is available again after a minor niggle kept him out of recent matches. The only omission from last week’s squad is Andrew Nabbout, who will miss Saturday’s clash after presenting with delayed concussion symptoms earlier this week following the draw with Central Coast.
City’s Women also receive several reinforcements ahead of their long-awaited return to domestic competition. Matricciani regains important depth across the park, with Karly Roestbakken, Chinaza Uchendu and Ellie Wilson all included after missing earlier fixtures through injury.
Roestbakken and Uchendu were involved in City’s final AWCL match before the international break, while Wilson continues to progress well after her concussion layoff. Kaya Jugovic is the only player omitted from the squad that featured in our most recent league match, while Bryleeh Henry remains unavailable as she continues her recovery from a back injury.
ALM Round 7 Squad
1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 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, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 44. Besian KUTLESHI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
In: 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON (both return from injury), 20. Ben MAZZEO (promoted)
Out: 15. Andrew NABBOUT (concussion)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (concussion), Alessandro LOPANE (ankle), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (ACL), 41. Lawrence WONG (MCL).
ALW Round 6 Squad
2. Ellie WILSON, 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 7. Danella BUTRUS, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly MCNAMARA, 10. Izabella RAKO, 11. Deven JACKSON, 12. Shelby MCMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 14. Laura HUGHES, 15. Chinaza UCHENDU, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 21. Aideen KEANE, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Malena MIERES (GK).
In: 2. Ellie WILSON, 15. Chinaza UCHENDU, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN (all return from injury)
Out: 17. Kaya JUGOVIC (omitted)
Unavailable: 22. Bryleeh HENRY (back).
