Gui Finkler has been left out of the Melbourne Victory squad list for the AFC Champions League Play-off tie to be played in Geelong next weekend according to squad lists published by the Asian Football Confederation.
The AFC enforces a 3+1 foreigner rule where the fourth international squad member has to be from an AFC affiliated nation, and without such a player on their books, Victory had to make the tough call who to leave out from their list of Pablo Contreras, Adama Traore, Kosta Barbarouses and Finkler.
The Brazilian has endured a difficult 12 months, suffering the dreaded anterior cruciate knee ligament injury and had been eased back into action so far this season.
Finkler has shown glimpses of his best when on the park but this would be another personal setback for him, though the squad list can still be altered prior to the start of the group stage should Victory qualify.
Their opponents in Geelong will be the winner out of this coming Saturday night’s play-off between Muangthong United (THA) or Hà Nội T&T (VIE).
Full Squad List:
1. Nathan Coe [GK]
2. Pablo Contreras [INT]
3. Adama Traore [INT]
4. Nicholas Ansell
5. Mark Milligan
6. Leigh Broxham
9. Kosta Barbarouses [INT]
10. Archie Thompson
11. Connor Pain
13. Andrew Nabbout
14. James Troisi
16. Rashid Mahazi
17. Jimmy Jeggo
18. Francesco Stella
20. Lawrence Thomas [GK]
21. Tom Rogic
22. Jesse Makarounas
23. Adrian Leijer
24. Scott Galloway
25. Jason Geria
26. Jordan Brown
27. Dylan Murnane
28. Christopher Cristaldo
29. Milos Ridesic
30. Keegan Coulter [GK]
GK = Goalkeeper
INT = Foreign player