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Melbourne Heart will again be without skipper Harry Kewell as coach John Aloisi seeks to ease the pressure with a breakthrough A-League win against Adelaide on Sunday.
Kewell hasn’t played since going off injured in round one with a whiplash injury.
He was due to return from that injury three weeks ago, before rolling an ankle at training days before his expected comeback.
The Heart had again forecast his return for Sunday’s match at AAMI Park, but the 35-year-old was ruled out on Saturday, with the coach saying he had not progressed as hoped during the week.
“He hasn’t come through a training session as well as we would have liked,” Aloisi said.
“There is no point risking him unless he is fit and there are still 20 games to go.”
It’s another blow for Aloisi, who is under intense pressure, with his club winless, on the bottom of the table and on a five-match losing streak.
Adelaide have their own problems, in eighth spot, just three points plus goal difference clear of the Heart and coming off a deflating defeat themselves.
Despite dominating possession against a Melbourne Victory side reduced to 10 men before halftime, they lost 3-0 last round.
Fullback Cassio is the only loss from that side which should otherwise remain unchanged.
For the Heart, winger Iain Ramsay will face his former club, having made the move from Adelaide in the off-season.
He said this week he and his teammates were desperate to relieve the pressure on Aloisi.
“We’re definitely playing for the coaching staff, mainly for them, for each other as well,” Ramsay said.
He wasn’t the only one digging in, as the club attempted to swing support behind the embattled Aloisi.
Chief executive Scott Munn sent an online letter to fans this week pointedly urging loyalty and unity.
On the same day, Aloisi released a members-only video in which he spoke of his determination to recover the Heart’s season.
AAP bmc/scl/ajw By Sam Lienert And Ben McKay
MELBOURNE, Nov 30 AAP – Melbourne Heart will again be without skipper Harry Kewell as coach John Aloisi seeks to ease the pressure with a breakthrough A-League win against Adelaide on Sunday.
Kewell hasn’t played since going off injured in round one with a whiplash injury.
He was due to return from that injury three weeks ago, before rolling an ankle at training days before his expected comeback.
The Heart had again forecast his return for Sunday’s match at AAMI Park, but the 35-year-old was ruled out on Saturday, with the coach saying he had not progressed as hoped during the week.
“He hasn’t come through a training session as well as we would have liked,” Aloisi said.
“There is no point risking him unless he is fit and there are still 20 games to go.”
It’s another blow for Aloisi, who is under intense pressure, with his club winless, on the bottom of the table and on a five-match losing streak.
Adelaide have their own problems, in eighth spot, just three points plus goal difference clear of the Heart and coming off a deflating defeat themselves.
Despite dominating possession against a Melbourne Victory side reduced to 10 men before halftime, they lost 3-0 last round.
Fullback Cassio is the only loss from that side which should otherwise remain unchanged.
For the Heart, winger Iain Ramsay will face his former club, having made the move from Adelaide in the off-season.
He said this week he and his teammates were desperate to relieve the pressure on Aloisi.
“We’re definitely playing for the coaching staff, mainly for them, for each other as well,” Ramsay said.
He wasn’t the only one digging in, as the club attempted to swing support behind the embattled Aloisi.
Chief executive Scott Munn sent an online letter to fans this week pointedly urging loyalty and unity.
On the same day, Aloisi released a members-only video in which he spoke of his determination to recover the Heart’s season.
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