- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Hot striker Serge van Dijk has been placed at the top of a long injury list as the Queensland Roar assess the carnage before an A-League grudge match against Sydney FC.
Van Dijk will have X-rays for a suspected cheekbone fracture and also a concussion check after a nasty head clash in the Roar’s goalless draw against Adelaide United on Wednesday night.
The Dutch recruit joins a list of seven – all first-11 selections – who are in doubt for Saturday night’s home clash against their interstate arch-rivals.
On top of van Dijk, the most serious are Young Socceroos duo Tahj Minniecon (hip) and Luke DeVere (hamstring) who may not play again until the finals campaign.
Gold Coast-signing Minniecon will visit a doctor and DeVere have scans on Friday with the pair given little hope of playing Sydney.
“Tahj is looking doubtful as is Luke DeVere and Serge as well,” coach Frank Farina said on Thursday. “A two-day turnaround might be a bit tight.”
The in-form van Dijk played out the draw in Adelaide but was in a bad way after the head clash with Reds defender Robbie Cornthwaite.
Not even the possible early return of midfield maestro Charlie Miller at Suncorp Stadium can cloud the third-placed Roar’s problems.
Miller has recovered from surgery for groin and hernia problems and will undergo a fitness test at training at Ballymore on Friday.
At best he will start on the bench, but may be forced to wait another week when Queensland host Perth Glory in the final round.
Seasoned trio Danny Tiatto (broken toes), Josh McCloughan (hamstring) and goalkeeper Liam Reddy (hamstring) also need to prove their fitness after missing the Adelaide trip but are rated 90 per cent likely to play Sydney.
The Sky Blues need to win to keep their faint play-off hopes alive and coach John Kosmina has been baiting Farina in the lead-up to the penultimate round match.
The Roar (30 points) need a mere draw from the last two rounds to seal a semi-final berth but would savour killing off Sydney with a win after two previous away draws this season.
Two home wins would also put pressure on Melbourne Victory (32) to do the same to keep second spot and ensure a major semi-final berth.
Van Dijk’s dramas could give wayward youngster Robbie Kruse another chance to impress after making a solid comeback off the bench at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The 21-year-old striker set up the best chance of the match for Michael Zullo, who shot high, and also helped snuff out a dangerous late shot by Adelaide’s Fabian Barbiero.
“I thought it was a relatively even game but we had more clear-cut chances, unfortunately we didn’t take them,” Farina said.
“To go away and get a point is reasonably satisfying but it could be much better.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.