“He was up for selection, but he'll miss out on travelling because we are travelling today.

“But he's good as gold. He's got a fantastic attitude and he trains the house down and like anybody, he's a player that wants to play. That's my job - my job is to help them to manage everybody.”

Also looking to return from injury and force his way into the United first team is Olyroo’s captain Pasquali.

Signing with United after leaving the academy of Dutch giants Ajax, the one-time Melbourne Victory starlet has yet to feature for his new side this season after an injury-interrupted pre-season.

“He’s training, back with the squad,” the United gaffer said. “He had an ankle and then a quad and then he went to the Olyroos and got reinjured there as well.

“He’s worked really hard the last few weeks with our conditioning coach playing catch up. This week he’s been with the players and he’ll get minutes on Saturday because we’ve got a game organised against [NPL Victoria side] Altona Magic. 

“He’s looking like a different person. It’s really good to see Sebastian out there with the players now and he’s got a spring in his step and he looks good.”

One player that, thankfully for United, hasn’t struggled with injury has been captain Diamanti.

The Italian superstar has been immense since arriving in the A-League for the 2019/20 season, his deftness of touch, cocksure style and pinpoint passing clearly demonstrating his luminescent class.

However, the former West Ham man is out-of-contract at the end of the season, with, according to Rudan, uncertainty around the A-League adding to the challenges of re-signing him to another contract.

“We've got a process at the football club, we don't normally talk about that kind of thing,” he explained.

“But as far as I'm concerned, he’s a fantastic player, he's been a joy to coach and work with and I'd love for that to continue.

“But again, it's not my decision and there are so many question marks over next year with who runs the league and what the salary cap's going to be - are there going to be more foreigners?

“All these things we're hearing, it's sort of up in the air for us as well, so it's really hard to plan and we like to plan at this time of the year as well.

“So your guess is as good as mine, if things change, then everything changes basically.”

Rudan also confirmed that a foot injury to wing-back Josh Risdon, while not a season-ender, would keep him out of action until at least the new year.