Bleiberg calls for ‘Aussie Battler’ mentality

Miron Bleiberg has restored Liam Reddy to the starting line up for Saturday night’s clash against the Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium.

Reddy’s last appearance was in the 0-0 home draw against Adelaide United in round five and Bleiberg believes his more imposing presence is what the team needs this week.

“I have decided that this week Liam Reddy will play in goal. The team is a bit low on morale after the Newcastle Jets game and I think that in this case we need a more vocal goalkeeper. Liam is a bit more of a leader and together with the likes of Stuart McLaren - these are the types of players that we need to stand up this weekend,” said Bleiberg.

“I sometimes look backwards at past history and I know that Liam has produced excellent performances in the past against the Mariners. I am looking to him to do that again,” he added.

Carl Recchia, signed as cover for the injured Massimo Murdocca, looks unlikely to make his debut after suffering from a stomach virus all week.

Striker Simon Lynch is still a major doubt for the game but Bleiberg will give him until the eleventh hour to prove his fitness. If Lynch is unable to play then 18-year-old Robbie Kruse, signed as temporary cover for Dario Vidosic, will take up a spot on the bench.

Kruse only turned 18 on October 5th this year and was signed this week on a temporary contract as cover for Roar’s other young gun, Dario Vidosic, who is away in India with the Young Socceroos. The youngster is anxiously waiting to find out if he will feature in the game but says just being around the senior professionals is valuable.

“I haven’t found out if I’m playing yet, I’m just waiting to hear from Miron,” said Kruse.

“I’ve learned a lot already from the experienced players here – just the knowledge they pass down to you. Ante (Milicic) for instance, just how much he puts in at training still, even though he’s getting near to the end of his career. He’s still putting in the hard work trying to improve every session. It’s just good to have all this passed down to me.”

Chinese international Yuning Zhang will begin his first match of the season after looking sharp all week in training and young defender Ben Griffin is drafted into the squad for the second time this term as Bleiberg is forced to re-shuffle his line up. Along with Spase Dilevski, Griffin has been away all week in an Australian Under 23 camp and has returned full of confidence according to Bleiberg.

“Ben’s coming back from a very good campaign with the Under-23’s and he never let me down in the pre-season when he played. I intended to give him a chance sooner or later, so I think that this will be his day. When you come from the Under-23 camp, you already think you’re a good player so mentally he’s already switched on,” said the Roar boss.

Spase Dilevski is expected to be fit enough to play after he too suffered from a slight back problem this week and Bleiberg is calling on his players to show the ‘Aussie battler’ spirit in a week when they have faced adversity at almost every turn.

Queensland Roar Squad: 1. Tom Willis (gk), 2. Andrew Packer, 4. Chad Gibson, 5. Josh McCloughan, 6. Stuart McLaren, 7. Marcus Wedau, 10. Ante Milicic, 11. Reinaldo da costa, 12. Yuning Zhang, 13. Spase Dilevski, 14. Ben Griffin, 15. Matthew McKay, 16. Hyuk-Su Seo, 19. Sasa Ognenovski, 20. Liam Reddy (gk), 25. Carl Recchia, 26. Robbie Kruse. *two to be omitted.

In: Yuning Zhang (promoted), Marcus Wedau (promoted), Carl Recchia (new short-term signing), Robbie Kruse (new short-term signing), Chad Gibson (promoted). Out: Dario Vidosic (International duty – Young Socceroos), Simon Lynch (back injury – out for 1 week).

A-League Round 10

Queensland Roar vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday Night, October 28
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick off: 7:00pm (local/AEST)

Live coverage on Fox Sports 1 from 7:00pm (AEST). Radio: Coast FM 96.3FM (Central Coast).

Tickets: available via internet or phone and at the venue. Call 132 849 or visit www.ticketek.com.au.