NORTH Queensland Fury will not risk Dyron Daal against Melbourne Victory next week, no matter how restless the striker gets, the Townsville-based club insisted today.
Fury assistant coach Stuart McLaren feels for the Netherlands Antilles international, having displaced rising star Chris Payne in Fury's starting side against Melbourne Heart.
But a slight left hamstring tear has sidelined the 26-year-old for up to three weeks, with coach Franz Straka and McLaren both factoring him out of the equation for next week.
Not even a week's rest and Daal's insistence will convince his bosses otherwise.
"We are encouraging Dyron to take it easy," McLaren said. "He is desperate to get back into it because he worked so hard to get into the side and did so well against the Heart."
McLaren is not out to curb anyone's enthusiasm or questions Daal's healing abilities; it's what waits on the A-League horizon that has put the North Queensland brains trust in a cautious frame of mind.
A gruelling week away from home, that sees them cross the Tasman to play Wellington then skip back to face Sydney mid-week before backing up to play Central Coast Mariners, all in the space of eight days, will put all new demands on the Townsville-based outfit.
"We have a tricky spell after the Melbourne Victory," McLaren said.
"It's important we have players right for that away stint because we are going to need to call on the full depth of the squad in that week."
Those carrying injury, no matter how slight, have been given light training duties.
Isaka Cernak, who picked up a slight knock in the side's loss to Adelaide has sat out some of the heavier sessions with injured left back Chris Grossman given until next week to resume full-training.
While Brad McDonald and Jack Hingert have covered for Grossman, the 23-year-old is a strong candidate for an immediate recall.
McLaren added: "He's got three or four days to press his claims and we are well aware of what he brings to the side."
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