Melbourne Heart FC have named a preliminary squad of 18 players ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Round 22 clash at Hunter Stadium.
Melbourne Heart FC have named a preliminary squad of 18 players ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Round 22 clash at Hunter Stadium.
In promising news for Melbourne Heart, who are fresh off a 4-0 Melbourne Derby triumph, the team will be bolstered by the return of suspended defensive duo Aziz Behich and Patrick Gerhardt, who both received one-match bans for accumulating five yellow cards across the season.
The pair subsequently missed the Derby; however, they will give Head Coach John van’t Schip a selection headache this week, with the team managing to keep a clean sheet against Melbourne Victory, with Robbie Wielaert slotting back into central defence and Benjamin Garuccio performing well at left-back.
With Mate Dugandzic, David Williams and Orlando Engelaar continue their goal-scoring form, there is plenty of attacking firepower in the final third and drive from midfield.
For the Jets, David Carney could come into contention for selection after returning for injury, while the Newcastle squad named is particularly strong.
Check out all the ins and outs for both squads below.
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Heart FC
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 5.30pm local (5:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Adam Kersey
Assistant Referee 1: Lance Greenshields
Assistant Referee 2: Leigh Pigram
Fourth Official: Tim McGilchrist
TV broadcast: 7.30pm (AEDT) Live coverage on FOX Sports 3HD and on Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne, ABC Local radio Victoria, 1233 ABC Newcastle (second half coverage), Grandstand Digital, Online/Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvMHT
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 4.Kew JALIENS, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Zenon CARAVELLA, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (c), 9.Emile HESKEY, 11.Craig GOODWIN, 13.Joey GIBBS, 14.Josh MITCHELL, 15.Josh BRILLANTE, 17.James VIRGILI, 21.Sam GALLAWAY, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.David CARNEY, 24.Mitch OXBORROW, 29.Joel GRIFFITHS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (promoted), 23.David Carney (returns from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Scott NEVILLE (knee injury – long term) 25.Mitch COOPER (knee injury – long term), 27.Nick WARD (knee injury – one week)
Melbourne Heart FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Robbie WIELAERT, 4.Orlando ENGELAAR, 6.Patrick GERHARDT, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Harry KEWELL (c), 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16.Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 19.Benjamin GARRUCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nicholas KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 27.Luke O-DEA
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Patrick GERHARDT (returns from suspension), 16.Aziz BEHICH (returns from suspension), 27.Luke O-DEA (promoted)
Outs: 30.Ross ARCHIBALD (omitted)
Unavailable: Nil
