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Djite to return for Adelaide in A-League

14th March, 2013
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Adelaide United frontman Bruce Djite will return from injury as the Reds seek to build their finals credentials against Newcastle Jets in Friday night’s A-League clash.

Djite, troubled by a groin injury, will likely come from the bench against the Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The striker tore a groin muscle on January 11 and returned earlier this month only to suffer a recurrence of the injury.

His return comes as Adelaide linchpin Dario Vidosic stresses the need to create further momentum with just three games remaining before the finals.

“It’s important to get confidence and get the style of play that we want going,” Vidosic told reporters on Thursday.

“If we can keep building we should be good to go by the time the finals come.”

Adelaide banked their first away win since November on Monday night with an impressive 2-0 defeat of Melbourne Heart.

And Vidosic believed the three-day break between games could benefit the fourth-placed Reds.

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“It’s a little bit tough on the legs … but sometimes it’s a good thing to carry the momentum through and to have two games in quick succession,” he said.

“We played very well against a very good team, now it’s about building the momentum.”

The sixth-placed Jets will again be without their key striker Emile Heskey (calf).

“You want to compete against the best and he has been a very very good player for the Jets and he’s one they miss a lot when he’s not playing,” Vidosic said of Heskey.

“But by the same token they have got a lot of young players who can come in and cause some headaches with their speed up front … we know there is a lot of players we have to be worried about.

“It’s a positive that Heskey is not there but other boys can have their day.”

Adelaide need only one more point from their remaining games to secure a home elimination final.

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“Anyone in the six has a chance to win it, you can finish or sixth – you just need three very good games and you can be crowned champions,” Vidosic said.

“We want to get the form and momentum going into the finals because you don’t want to be hoping that it all happens on the day, you want to be building towards it.”

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