Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic admits Brendon Santalab’s dislocated shoulder is still touch and go days out from the second leg of the team’s Asian Champions League decider.
The Wanderers flew out of Sydney on Tuesday night ahead of their historic clash against Al-Hilal in Riyadh – just three days after Santalab suffered the injury during the home team’s 1-0 win over the Saudi side at Parramatta Stadium.
Speaking before he left home soil with his teammates, the striker said he was still a good chance of playing the final despite feeling “a little sore”.
But Popovic said the shoulder, which was cleared of serious damage earlier this week, was still a day-by-day issue.
“He’s still in some discomfort,” Popovic told reporters at Sydney Airport.
“He tried to train today and look, he’ll be touch and go.
“We hope that obviously he’s available for selection. He wants to be.”
Medical staff will do everything possible to make sure the 32-year-old is fit and ready to play come Saturday, Popovic said.
“But it might be one of those (situations) where we have to decide on Saturday,” he said.
In some ways it is not the worst scenario for the Wanderers with back-up striker Tomi Juric proving the difference in the first leg.
His injection in the 58th minute changed the complexion of the game, the super sub scoring the lone goal in the 64th minute and frequently troubling Al-Hilal’s defence.
Meanwhile, Popovic said the players had earned their spot in the final and now just had to finish the job.
Popovic admitted the Wanderers hadn’t played at their best when they pulled off the home victory last Saturday.
“They played very well and we didn’t, and we won,” he said.
“We can do a lot better.”
The Wanderers are expecting to receive a hostile reception when they run out in front of 65,000 screaming Al-Hilal fans on match day, 4am (AEDT) on Sunday.
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