Dutch winger Rutger Worm is in line for a recall after he was named in the extended Melbourne Heart FC squad for Saturday’s match against Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
Dutch winger Rutger Worm is in line for a recall after he was named in the extended Melbourne Heart FC squad for Saturday-s match against Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
Having suffered an injury interrupted pre-season, which culminated in the groin strain which ruled him out of the opening three rounds of the season, Worm has sufficiently proven his fitness to be in line for a return to the match day squad.
However, the former Dutch youth international faces a challenge in breaking into the final 15-man squad, with Kristian Sarkies, Nick Kalmar and Eli Babalj, who recently overcame injury, joining Worm as the inclusions to John van ‘t Schip-s squad, providing the tactician with a series of tough decisions at the selection table.
After successfully returning from this week-s Socceroo/Olyroo combine in Sydney, Aziz Behich, Brendan Hamill, Jason Hoffman and David Williams have all been named in the squad, while Curtis Good is set to line up at the heart of defence despite his Young Socceroo call-up.
Good though will miss next week-s match against Adelaide United as a result of the AFC U/19 Championship, and is set to travel to Malaysia on Sunday.
On the goalkeeping front, Sebastian Mattei retains his places in the squad ahead of Nikola Roganovic after his impressive display during the Heart NYL side-s Melbourne Derby triumph in Northcote.
Squad
1. Clint Bolton, 2. Michael Marrone, 3. Brendan Hamill, 4. Simon Colosimo, 6. Matt Thompson, 7. Rutger Worm, 8. Kristian Sarkies, 9. Maycon, 10. Wayne Srhoj, 11. Alex Terra, 13. Jonatan Germano, 15. David Williams, 16. Aziz Behich, 17. Jason Hoffman, 18. Curtis Good, 19. Eli Babalj, 22. Nick Kalmar, 23. Mate Dugandzic, 30. Sebastian Mattei. *four to be omitted*
In: Rutger Worm, Kristian Sarkies, Eli Babalj, Nick Kalmar
Unavailable: Adrian Zahra (Knee – indefinite), Kamal Ibrahim (Ankle – four weeks), Kliment Taseski (Foot – long term injury list), Fred (Hamstring – three weeks)
