Olyroos Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Nikita Rukavytsya will re-join their Perth Glory team mates on Saturday afternoon in Adelaide and are in contention to line-up in the club’s first match of the season the following day.
Olyroos Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Nikita Rukavytsya will re-join their Perth Glory team mates on Saturday afternoon in Adelaide and are in contention to line-up in the club-s first match of the season the following day.
The pair returned to Australia overnight after the Olyroos were eliminated from the Beijing games and their availability has come as a welcome surprise for Coach Dave Mitchell.
“We-re all disappointed that the Olyroos were eliminated from the Olympics, it-s important for football in this country that we do well in big tournaments, however from a club point of view we-re delighted that we have our lads back and available to play,” Mitchell said.
Topor-Stanley and Rukavytsya are two of the competition-s young guns and their inclusion would be a huge plus for Perth who faces a tough away assignment against Adelaide in the first round of the new season.
Mitchell said he will make a decision on whether he utilises the pair after assessing their physical condition following a long flight home.
“I want to see how the boys shape up after the trip back from China,” Mitchell said.
“Having them in Adelaide definitely gives us more options and that-s a positive position to be in.
“I-m sure they-ll be raring to go but we have to make sure that they-re ready to put 100% into the match and I-ll make my decision after I chat with them on their arrival.”
Fellow Olympian Tando Velaphi will head straight back to Perth after the goal keeping job in round one was handed to Glory team mate Frank Juric.
