Sydney FC coach Ian Crook says the club still has room to squeeze Socceroo midfielders Paul Reid and Jason Culina onto their roster alongside marquee player Alessandro Del Piero.
The Italian veteran had his first training session with the club on Tuesday, but Sydney’s off-season recruiting drive might not be over.
Former Adelaide and Wollongong stalwart Reid, who also played for English clubs Brighton and Bradford, has played in Sydney’s past two trials against Newcastle and Brisbane.
“I think we’re not too far away from getting something finalised,” Crook said about the possibility of Reid joining Sydney.
Socceroo regular Culina’s hasn’t played since injuring a knee in the the Asian Cup in January 2011.
He has spent several weeks training with Sydney.
While Crook is clearly still an admirer of Culina he isn’t sure when the classy midfielder will be fit to resume his career and become a potential addition to his strong squad.
“Sometimes he’ll come in the next day and he’ll go ‘I’m feeling great’ and then there’s other times he comes in and says ‘I’m a little bit stiff today and a little bit sore,'” Crook said.
“He’s getting through different hurdles.
“It could could be two weeks, it could be ten weeks, it could be ten months, we’ll just wait and see.”
Signing Reid and/or Culina would fortify a Sydney midfield that has lost marquee player Nicky Carle to Baniyas Sports Club.
Crook is also wary of further national under-20 commitments for his teenage midfielders Terry Antonis and Hagi Gligor, who were required for a tournament in Vietnam earlier this month.
“If they both get named again – and losing Nicky (Carle) as well that I was looking to play in there (in midfield) – that leaves us very bare in there.”
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.
Initially, it was ruled a penalty after Jordan Courtney-Perkins was taken down by Kealey Adamson. But on review, it was found that the infringement…
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
