The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Sydney FC left striker-less on A-League season eve

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
17th October, 2018
5

Sydney FC are searching for a replacement for injured forward Trent Buhagiar, although new coach Steve Corica is happy with his squad’s depth heading into their A-League opener on Friday.

Corica is bullish about the club’s prospects after ten wins and two draws in an unbeaten pre-season campaign but he was gutted for Buhagiar after he tore an anterior cruciate ligament at training last Sunday.

The former Central Coast striker Buhagiar, who is expected to miss the majority of the season, had played a major part in Sydney’s run to the FFA Cup final by scoring four goals in the last three rounds.

Captain Alex Brosque is set to start in Adelaide on Friday, with young forward Charles Lokolingoy another likely to get more time following Buhagiar’s setback.

Sydney still have an import spot available, which they could use to add another forward.

“We’ve started to have a little look around and see what’s available,” Corica said on Thursday.

“But there’s a lot of depth in this squad as it is, and I believe in the boys.”

Corica’s faith in his striking stocks was echoed by veteran forward Brosque.

Advertisement

“We’ve recruited unbelievably well and we’ve got more depth than we’ve ever had up front,” Brosque said.

Buhagiar’s former Mariners teammate Daniel De Silva, who has missed several pre-season games with a hamstring injury, is unlikely to play against Adelaide but he could be ready to play next week against Western Sydney.

Defender Ben Warland, who is sidelined with a broken foot, is the only other player not available to play Adelaide.

Corica hoped to land a psychological blow at Coopers Stadium given they play Adelaide at the same venue in the FFA Cup final on October 30, and he was relaxed after Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow mapped out the season goals.

Barlow has challenged Graham Arnold’s successor to claim all three domestic trophies – the FFA Cup, the Premiers’ Plate and the A-League.

Those high expectations did not concern Corica, who played for the club before joining the coaching staff.

“It’s nothing different to when I was a player at the club, we wanted to win every year,” he said

Advertisement

Corica has already helped Sydney achieve one new record, with the Sky Blues becoming the first A-League club to reach three straight FFA Cup finals.

close