PERTH Glory coach Dave Mitchell wants the FFA to step in and help if the club loses its three Socceroos players during the January transfer window.
Mile Sterjovski admitted he is torn between club and country, but concedes he may have to miss the A-League finals in order to secure a spot on the plane to South Africa.
Sterjovski, who was recalled to the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup Qualifier against Oman next week, could face an agonising decision if Perth Glory make the A-League finals.
The Glory marquee is looking for a loan to an overseas club to bolster his chances of being selected for the World Cup. However, the problem is timing.
While the former Derby County midfielder would like to leave in March, just after the finals finish, the subtleties of the international transfer market could force him to leave in January.
"I'd like to be here for the finals, that was my plan all along and I want to finish the season with Perth Glory," he said. "But it all depends how things go in the transfer market. It's hard to say what's going to happen.
"If in the end we have to leave early, it's going to be very disappointing (but) it's for the Socceroos, it's for the World Cup so it's a huge sacrifice we going to have to make."
While Sterjovski said he was relieved to be back with the national team, he was disappointed his fellow Perth Glory teammates weren't also selected.
"I would have like to be in the squad together with Jacob Burns and Chris Coyne. Unfortunately it didn't happen this time, but I am sure that it could happen in the future."
Glory still stand to lose all three in January as they may need to be loaned overseas to play competitively until May and keep in contention for Australia's World Cup squad.
Although all three are attempting to organise loans during March after the A-League finals series is completed, this is impossible for most European and Asian clubs.
Mitchell is well aware the trio's presence could be vital to the club qualifying and competing in its first A-League finals series but moves were already afoot to line up replacements.
But the Glory coach is hopeful FFA may bend its rules on marquee players as all clubs are only allowed one marquee whose salary falls outside the salary cap.
"That's one of those quirky rules that we've got to look at," Mitchell said today. "You're only allowed one marquee player but under the circumstances that we've got and Mile does leave, then we'd like to bring someone of the same quality in.
"That's something from the FFA we'll have to clarify if Mile does go, that we can replace him and I'm pretty sure because it's benefiting the national team, benefiting the national game, I think that's a rule that if it is a problem, will be overlooked."
Mitchell is well aware losing the trio will hit his squad hard, but said Glory was determined to give them the chance to press for national selection.
"If it's the situation where they think that with selection, there's a good chance for them and it will hinder them if they stay, then as (club owner) Tony (Sage) said, we would like to back them in.
"(But) in that case we've got to make sure that we get other quality players in if they do go."
Mitchell said if the club made the finals, it was unlikely he would try to source players from rival A-League clubs that missed the play-offs.
Instead, Mitchell said he would most likely look to Europe or Asia for players to come in on short-term loans.
He also said there had been no communication as yet with either Melbourne Victory or Adelaide United regarding loaning his three Socceroos to those teams as they are playing in the Asian Champions League which runs after the A-League finals are over.
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