Several youngsters and a hard working local lad will get their opportunity to impress when they step out in a pre-season friendly for Perth Glory against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
Several youngsters and a hard working local lad will get their opportunity to impress when they step out in a pre-season friendly for Perth Glory against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
Glory has travelled to the South Australian capital minus their quartet of prized signings, Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns, Andy Todd and Branko Jelic, all of who are yet to join their new team mates while Perth will also be without five senior listed players through injury.
It has prompted Coach Dave Mitchell to reach out to the club-s youth squad plus experienced Perth SC player Todd Howarth who has impressed in training with the Glory as he looks to secure a contract for this season.
“We-re probably not as prepared as we-d like for this game with lack of players available, with the overseas based guys we-ve brought in not available and others still doing rehab, but it will a good challenge and part of the learning curve for the young boys,” Mitchell said.
Perth will play their round one 2009/10 clash at Hindmarsh against Adelaide however Mitchell isn-t too concerned about tonight-s result, instead preferring to use the hit-out as a chance to trial tactics practised at training.
“We-ll have a bit of an experimental side out there and will use the game to do some formation work. It-s a good opportunity to get out there and have more game time under our belts and we-re looking forward to the challenge,” said Mitchell.
The match will also serve as another solid step in Glory-s preparations ahead of the highly anticipated clashes with English Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham at Members Equity Stadium on July 10 & 15.
Pre-Season Friendly
Adelaide United FC v Perth Glory
26 June 2009 at Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 6.00pm AWST
Perth Glory: Tando VELAPHI (gk), Jimmy DOWNEY, Jamie HARNWELL, Brent GRIFFITHS, Adriano PELLEGRINO, Wayne SRHOJ, Howard FONDYKE, Scott BULLOCH, Andrija JUKIC, Eugene DADI, Aleks VRTESKI (gk), Todd HOWARTH (trial), Ryan PEARSON (youth), Milljon BUTSHIIRE (youth), Dean EVANS (youth)
Unavailable: Mile Sterjovski (pending arrival), Jacob Burns (pending arrival), Andy Todd (pending arrival), Branko Jelic (pending arrival), Scott Neville (rehab – groin), Anthony Skorich (rehab – ankle), Victor Sikora (rehab – knee), Jamie Coyne (groin soreness), Naum Sekulovski (rehab – soreness)
