Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has thrown support behind his depleted squad as they prepare to take on second placed Western Sydney Wanderers tomorrow night at AAMI Park.
Taking to the pitch for the second time in five days, Victory will have a host of first team players unavailable due to injury, suspension and international duty.
“There’s a number of things to draw upon to suggest why we aren’t a chance tomorrow night,” Muscat said
“You try telling that to the group players who are determined to prove people wrong, and as I said I’ve got the upmost confidence in the players that are available to go and get a result tomorrow night.”
Former skipper Adrian Leijer will make his return to the starting line up after serving a one match suspension whilst fellow centre back Pablo Contreras will be sidelined for disciplinary reasons.
Injury clouds also loom over midfielders Mitch Nichols and Mark Milligan with Connor Pain, Scott Galloway, Jason Geria and Nick Ansell all absent through international duty with the Olyroos.
After a short turn around against Newcastle Jets on Friday night and with a limited list at his disposal, Muscat is predicting few changes to occur ahead of tomorrow nights fixture.
“If I has some more bodies I probably would [make more changes],” he said.
“The players are fully aware of the numbers we’ve got and the bodies we’ve got available at the moment.”
Aside from Leijer replacing Contreras, Muscat confirmed that his makeshift defence would remain unchanged from Friday night.
Left back Adama Traore will partner Leijer in the heart of defence with teenager Dylan Murnane and Leigh Broxham covering the flanks.
Mitch Nichols looks unlikely to make an appearance tomorrow night and when questioned about his star players fitness, Muscat said: “I suggest he would struggle to be honest.”
“Mitch Nichols came off with a knock to his knee and we are still not sure on Mark Milligan.”
Despite playing an undermanned side against the Jets, Muscat was nevertheless pleased with the performance his team put in and is expecting much the same from his squad tomorrow night.
“If I’m honest I was pleased with the performance on the weekend.”
“It was pretty disjointed as expected early on, a lot of new combinations and players who didn’t play in the positions previously but I’ve got confidence and we’ve got a good squad here, a lot of the young boys came in the other day and did well for us.
“Everyone in the squad was important to us so that’s where we are at the moment and that’s why I haven’t got a problem with the team I’ll be putting out there tomorrow night.”
Melbourne Victory take on Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park for the second time in two weeks, with the match scheduled to kick-off at 7:30pm tomorrow night.