Jamie Maclaren is likely to return from concussion next week with Melbourne City needing his striking to galvanise them in the run to the A-League finals.
Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce expects to have in-form striker Jamie Maclaren back from concussion next week, with the battling A-league club in need of his goalscoring prowess.
City’s 3-0 away loss to Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday left them with just one win from their last eight games and in danger of dropping a spot into sixth by the end of the round.
That sole victory was a notable one at high-flying Sydney FC just before the international break, but City were unable to build on their momentum against the Sky Blues’ cross-town rivals.
They couldn’t capitalise on chances early in each half and missed the predatory striking instincts of Maclaren, who has scored five goals in as many game since joining the club.
The Socceroos forward was ruled out of Saturday’s game after getting concussed at training earlier in the week.
“The ball hit him on the side of the face,” City coach Warren Joyce said.
“It (concussion) is a serious issue nowadays and we’re guided by the medical people and the welfare of Jamie is the first and most important thing..”
Joyce expected Maclaren would be back for next Friday’s home game with the struggling Brisbane Roar.
Maclaren’s misfortune meant City couldn’t build on the developing partnership between him and Englishman Shayon Harrison, another mid-season signing.
Harrison is the only City player other than Maclaren to have scored for the club over their last eight games.
‘”The frustrating thing is we’ve done quite a bit of work for a couple of weeks on the understanding of Shay and Jamie,” Joyce said.
‘We’ve got to get on with it, we’ve got to dust ourselves down get ready for a quick turnaround again next week.”
Joyce was adamant Wanderers should not have been awarded the penalty from which Oriol Riera scored their first goal.
He lamented missed scoring opportunities and errors which led to the Wanderers other two goals and insisted the home team were no better than his side in the first half.
Joyce said Rostyn Griffiths and Iacopo La Rocca would be checked for minor muscular niggles.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Dare I add that New York City was on the end of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Toronto at the weekend? I find myself constantly asking “why the owners want these franchises” and “what are they all about”. If someone can explain it all in words of one syllable, I’ll be eternally grateful. Being a fan of MC must be extremely frustrating and I totally get the “give up” exclamation. It doesn’t involve switching allegiance, it just means the subject isn’t woth expending energy on as,all it does is cause pain and suffering and nobody really wants to support a club that only gives off negative outcomes. Meanwhile in Perth, the chance to impress the casual fans that swelled the crowd on Saturday was missed. The quality of the football on show was good but the result will probably not be enough to swell the ranks when they host The Jets next time around.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Gotcha moment!!!!!! We could go 6th today. Try supporting us for an afternoon ???? You’d be throwing bricks at the screen if you did.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Mock you! Points your guns at Shaun Evans after last night's game. A big letdown considering the great crowd we got. I hear Perth are top of the league. Ooooooo, ouch!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Why do you mock me Jordan (hahahahaha)????????? Anyway, forget about Macca, that’s a distraction from the real issues. Am I changing sides, I hear Perth lost last night. Ooooooo, ouch :)
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Bahahahahahahahahahahs A report about how City need Jamie Maclaren back to win games and Stevo first thing rants about how CFG cant run a football club. When you say you quit, are you switching teams ????
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I could rant or just lie down and have a couple of drinks. I’m beyond caring. CFG do not know how to run a football club outside of their pet project, ManCity. How do suits at head office 16,000 km away understand and care for football in Australia except as a quick milking cow? Marwood chose Joyce but is unlikely to give him his marching orders because that would mean he got the appointment wrong. And that wouldn’t do his end of year bonus any good or his credibility. Meanwhile not a peep out of Munn. Playing possum. I give up.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
I know Perth lost last night but, even so, I thought Kilkenny was superb. So much of Perth's focus in attack comes from him pinging passes forward or across field, mostly very accurately. Which I guess is why Joyce let him go - who needs all that fancy foreign passing rubbish? I bet Joyce voted for Brexit.
pete4
Guest
Yeah you also can't see CFG being happy with a mid-table finish
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Amazing, as he appears to have no tactical intelligence, and yelling "don't give up " doesn't count. He's a one man handbrake on Melbourne City
pete4
Guest
On top of that I'm guessing Joyce is one of the highest paid coaches in the A-League. His tactics have been underwhelming to say the least this season. How Manchester United reportedly want him to join their setup is simply mind-boggling
Fadida
Roar Rookie
That Joyce still has a job is truly staggering. The man is an atrocious coach, surviving I think simply because he is English and has a relationship with Brian Marwood. His football is the antithesis of that of the parent club