The team is in for Friday’s final match of the regular season. See who’s in and who’s out of this week’s squad in our Team News presented by Lotus Living.
With finals already secured for City, Friday’s match poses a crucial task for the hosts to take winning momentum into the Elimination Final next week.
It’ll be an important tune up for Bart Schenkeveld and Scott Jamieson who are certainties to return for Friday night’s contest. Schenkeveld (groin) and Jamieson (toe) were named for last week’s clash with Wellington but with travel and turn-around, the decision was made to keep the two at CFA Melbourne to fine-tune themselves for the final home match.
Dario Vidosic has also been named alongside Connor Metcalfe and Idrus Abdulahi. Vidosic’s niggling back injury has seen him fully recover with the squad to be cut down by two 90 minutes before kick-off.
The only casualty from last week’s contest was Rostyn Griffiths who picked up a hamstring injury. The midfielder will be re-assessed next week for the Elimination Final to determine his fitness for the playoff series.
Teetering on the edge of one-match suspensions, Ritchie De Laet and Harrison Delbridge will take the ultimate caution this week. A yellow card against the Mariners would see either miss out on next week’s Final which is a risk Warren Joyce and his side will not be taking.
City face Central Coast at AAMI Park on Friday night. Kick-off 7.50pm.
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI, 3.Scott JAMIESON, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 8.Riley McGREE, 9.Shayon HARRISON, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 22.Curtis GOOD, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 29.Jamie MACLAREN, 34. Connor METCALFE, 51.Idrus ABDULAHI
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Scott JAMIESON (returns from injury), 5.Bart SCHENKVELD (returns from injury), 10.Dario VIDOSIC (promoted), 34.Connor METCALFE (promoted), 51.Idrus ABDULAHI (promoted)
Outs: 2.Ritchie DE LAET (omitted), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE (omitted), 7.Rostyn Griffiths (hamstring)
Unavailable: 30.Moudi NAJJAR (ankle)
