The teams are in for Sunday evening’s important clash against the Central Coast Mariners. See who’s in and who’s out of this week’s side.
Following a pulsating 2-2 draw in the Melbourne Derby last weekend, Head Coach John van’t Schip has made only two changes to the match day squad for Sunday’s match against the Mariners, with Anthony Caceres missing out through suspension and Harry Novillo omitted from the side.
Jacob Melling is likely to fill the midfield void left by Caceres after completing his one-match ban picked up against Newcastle, while youngster Steve Kuzmanovski is also promoted to the extended squad, which will be reduced to 16 players 90 minutes prior to kick-off.
Mariners coach Tony Walmsley will welcome back young defender Harry Ascroft from suspension, but will be without the services of Jake McGing in defence, who suffered a gluteus tear in last week’s 3-2 loss to Adelaide United.
Tomislav Uskock, Adam Berry and Matthew Fletcher are also named in the extended squad, while star man Luis Garcia is expected to be involved from the beginning at AAMI Park, after making his first start against the Reds last week.
Match Details
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Melbourne City FC v Central Coast Mariners
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 5:00 PM (Local) (5:00 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Brennan
Assistant Referee 2: Brad Hobson
Fourth Official: Jonathan Barreiro
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne, 92.5 ABC Central Coast, ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #MCYvCCM
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 2.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 8.Aaron MOOY, 11.Michael ZULLO, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (c), 25.Jacob MELLING, 27.Nick FITZGERALD, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 33.Osama MALIK, 39.Ali EYIGUN
*two to be omitted*
Ins: 25.Jacob MELLING (returns from suspension), 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI (promoted)
Outs: 9.Harry NOVILLO (omitted), 29.Anthony CACERES (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 4.Connor CHAPMAN (knee – 1-2 weeks), 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee – season)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 10.Luis GARCIA, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Alastair BRAY (gk), 15.Brad McDONALD, 16.Liam ROSE, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 21.Michael NEILL, 23.Tomislav USKOK, 25.Adam BERRY, 28.Matthew FLETCHER
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Harry ASCROFT (return from suspension), 23.Tomislav USKOK (promoted), 25.Adam BERRY (promoted), 28.Matthew FLETCHER (promoted)
Outs: 17.Francesco STELLA (not selected), 22.Jake McGING (gluteus tear – 1 week)
Unavailable: 9.Roy O’DONOVAN (suspended – 2 matches)