Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar faces some tough last-minute decisions on key players ahead of Thursday's crucial Asian Champions League match against Changchun Yatai in China.
Defenders Sasa Ognenovski (hip), Milan Susak (ankle) and experienced striker Paul Agostino (back) did not train on Monday, leaving Vidmar with doubts of three first-choice players ahead of the match which Adelaide must at least draw to seal its progression through to the next round.
Susak is the most likely of the trio to play, while Ognenovski is a day-by-day proposition as the club bids to manage his hip flexor issue. Agostino is going through a rotten run of luck with a quad injury and then chicken pox curtailing his campaign so far. His latest injury was sustained in Adelaide's final training session before departing for China
Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic said that while Adelaide would love to have those three players available, there is enough depth in the squad to cover any absences.
"The boys who would come in will need to step up and I think they're ready," Galekovic said. "After arriving yesterday, we've had a good sleep, a good rest and the boys were buzzing at training this morning so I'm sure we'll be ready come."
Galekovic said he expects a full-strength Changchun side to go all out in search of a win on Wednesday. He thinks it will be very different to their first clash at Hindmarsh Stadium which ended 0-0.
"I think it will be a bit different. The last time we played them they didn't have a number of their Chinese internationals and this time they do. They need to score so they'll come out and attack but we'll be ready, we'll defend well and hopefully we can get the result," he said.
The match has been postponed by 24 hours with China observing a three-day period of mourning after the recent Sichaun earthquake.
Susak is the most likely of the trio to play, while Ognenovski is a day-by-day proposition as the club bids to manage his hip flexor issue. Agostino is going through a rotten run of luck with a quad injury and then chicken pox curtailing his campaign so far. His latest injury was sustained in Adelaide's final training session before departing for China
Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic said that while Adelaide would love to have those three players available, there is enough depth in the squad to cover any absences.
"The boys who would come in will need to step up and I think they're ready," Galekovic said. "After arriving yesterday, we've had a good sleep, a good rest and the boys were buzzing at training this morning so I'm sure we'll be ready come."
Galekovic said he expects a full-strength Changchun side to go all out in search of a win on Wednesday. He thinks it will be very different to their first clash at Hindmarsh Stadium which ended 0-0.
"I think it will be a bit different. The last time we played them they didn't have a number of their Chinese internationals and this time they do. They need to score so they'll come out and attack but we'll be ready, we'll defend well and hopefully we can get the result," he said.
The match has been postponed by 24 hours with China observing a three-day period of mourning after the recent Sichaun earthquake.
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