New signing Nikola Roganovic is set to make his Hyundai A-League debut this weekend after he was named in the extended Melbourne Heart FC squad for its match against Newcastle Jets.
New signing Nikola Roganovic is set to make his Hyundai A-League debut this weekend after he was named in the extended Melbourne Heart FC squad for its match against Newcastle Jets.
Roganovic will make his first appearance in professional football after Clint Bolton was ruled out for a fortnight, having suffered a groin strain at training this week.
While disappointed to lose Heart-s reigning Player of the Year for the opening weeks of the season, Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said he is confident Roganovic will be able to step into the void to replace Bolton during the opening weeks of the Hyundai A-League season.
“We followed Nikola for almost a year. He-s a very experienced VPL goalkeeper and has won the last four championships, so he-s a player who knows what it means to be winning games.
“He-s also a professional and always learning, in particular over the recent period he has been training with us, so we have all the confidence in him.”
Arguably the premier shot stopper in the Victorian Premier League, Roganovic arrives at the Club following a triumphant local campaign with the Green Gully Cavaliers, helping the side to back-to-back championships.
Roganovic is the fifth player on the Heart roster to be recruited from the upper tiers of the Victorian state leagues, following the likes of Hyundai A-League regulars Nick Kalmar, Adrian Zahra and Olyroo Aziz Behich.
Squad
2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Brendan HAMILL, 5. FRED ©, 6. Matt THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 8. Kristian SARKIES, 9. MAYCON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. Alex TERRA, 13. Jonatan GERMANO, 15. David WILLIAMS, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 18. Curtis GOOD, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23. Mate DUGANDZIC, 24. Nikola ROGANOVIC (gk), 30. Sebastian MATTEI (gk)
