With time fast running out to secure an overseas loan deal, Socceroos winger Mile Sterjovski may be forced to compromise his World Cup dreams and play out the A-League season with Perth Glory.
Sterjovski was keen to leave the Glory during January’s transfer window on a short-term deal with an overseas club in order to keep his prospects of making Pim Verbeek’s World Cup squad alive.
But the 30-year-old, whose resume includes stints at French club Lille, Swiss outfit FC Basel, Genclerbirligi in Turkey and English club Derby County, said he was still in limbo and open to offers.
Socceroos coach Verbeek has made it clear A-League stars not playing regularly after the domestic season won’t be considered for South Africa but Sterjovski said there were ways around his current dilemma.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Sterjovski said on Thursday.
“I’m more than happy to play out the season here and make the finals and keep playing until it finishes.
“Then when that situation comes about I can maybe head back to Europe and as a worst case scenario I would consider going back to a few of my old clubs in Europe and training for six or seven weeks.
“I haven’t spoken to him (Verbeek) about it because the transfer window is still open so we are still looking at that situation.
“But as a worst case scenario if that comes about then I’d give him a call and see what he thinks about that.”
The A-League regular season concludes on February 14, with the grand final to be played on March 20.
Should the Glory, who occupy sixth spot on the table ahead of Friday night’s clash with Wellington, reach the grand final, it would still leave Sterjovski with more than two months to fill ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off on June 11.
Sterjovski’s Glory team-mate Chris Coyne, who met with Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng recently, is also yet to secure a loan deal, as is Perth skipper Jacob Burns.
While it is a devastating situation for the trio of Socceroos, it’s music to the ears of Perth Glory, who would have struggled to make an impact in the finals without their star players.
Meanwhile, Glory midfielder Adriano Pellegrino’s planned trial with Celtic and Motherwell may not eventuate with Perth yet to receive any word from the Scottish clubs.
“I haven’t heard any more about that, so it’s up in the air,” Glory coach Dave Mitchell said.
“Nothing has been confirmed, nothing has come across my desk to say when he’s leaving, if he’s going or whether it’s Motherwell or Celtic or Man United.
“I don’t know.”
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Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
