Round 9 of the Isuzu UTE A-League is in the books but unfortunately there were a number of high-profile stars who succumbed to injuries over the course of the weekend.
Read on below to hear what your head coach had to say when it comes to your side’s injury news.
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Josh Oluwayemi – Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi was subbed off in just the 11th minute of his side’s 3-1 win over the Mariners on Sunday, with head coach Giancarlo Italiano admitting the injury looks to be a bad one.
The former Tottenham Hotspur academy product was clearly distressed as he received treatment on his injured ankle whilst sat in the dugout before he was later seen wearing a protective boot.
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“(It) doesn’t look good, to be fair,” said Phoenix head coach Italiano when speaking at his post-match press conference.
“He’s in the boot, so we’ll have to reassess for tomorrow and see where he’s at. But I haven’t spoken to the physios yet, so I won’t know until later.”
The in-form Oluwayemi was replaced by 18-year-old Eamonn McCarron, who came on to make his professional debut in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Joe Lolley – Sydney FC
Having only just returned from a hamstring injury ahead of Round 9, Sydney FC star Joe Lolley looks set for another spell on the sidelines with the same injury.
Brought on in the 68th minute in place of Al Hasan Toure, Lolley lasted just 20 minutes before seemingly aggravating the issue again – and this time it seems to be worse.
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Lolley after injuring his right hamstring
With Sydney FC trailing 2-0, Lolley attempted a shot late in the game to try and get his side back into the contest but pulled up immediately, with his body language suggesting the injury was a bad one as he hobbled from the field.
Speaking after the game, Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay confirmed Lolley would now be sent for scans before revealing the medical advice he was given before selecting the Englishman.
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“It was 20 to 25 minutes that he could get through,” revealed Talay, when asked why he risked Lolley.
“Look, it’s one of those things where, you know, a player makes a decision sometimes in an uncontrolled environment.
“I think there’s two players blocking him at that moment to take that shot, but instinct kicks in as a player.
“So he was ready to go for a certain amount of minutes, and we gave him those minutes, but unfortunately it panned out the way it did.”
The Sky Blues will be hoping to have their star man back on the field as quickly as possible given their next three matches see them face Auckland FC (H), Melbourne City (A) and Macarthur Bulls (A) in the space of two weeks.
Dylan Pierias & Anselmo – Adelaide United
Adelaide United may have ended their three-game losing streak with a win over Perth Glory on Saturday night but unfortunately for Airton Andrioli’s side, the win came at a cost.
There were worrying scenes in the 64th minute of the clash at HBF Park as full back Dylan Pierias was stretchered from the field after a heavy challenge left him prone in the middle of the park.
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Pierias stretchered off at HBF Park
Attempting to win a duel against Glory midfielder Giovanni De Abreu, Pierias came off second best and immediately signalled to his teammates he needed attention from the bench after his leg buckled under the weight of the challenge.
Stretchered off after a long break in play, head coach Andrioli admits the club’s medical staff are still waiting for news with regards to the extent of the injury.
“We don’t know, so we just have to wait and see what happens. He’s just been taken to hospital.
“I’m praying that’s nothing major, because he’s also obviously a player that’s part of our squad as a starter, and we just hope it’s nothing too serious, but we have to wait and see.
He later added: “He was in a bit of pain, so obviously we tried to, as you do in those moments, to stay close to him, stay strong, and we are thinking of him and that sort of a stuff.
“As I said, I just hope that the news is not too bad.”
Also a subject of discussion in the Adelaide United head coach’s post-match press conference was the fitness of Brazilian midfielder Anselmo.
Selected for his first start of the season, the 36-year-old got through 45-minutes at HBF Park before being withdrawn, and was later spotted wearing an ice pack on his thigh whilst sitting on the bench.
However, Andrioli played down any concerns over his countryman’s fitness when asked about the reasoning behind his substitution at half-time.
Anselmo (C) pictured with ice on his left thigh
“Look Anselmo, for his first game starting, I think he was excellent in the first half. He gave us something that is different that we don’t have. To me, he played an outstanding 45 minutes.
“We had a game plan based a little bit around him, and he wanted to go on for another 10 minutes in the second half.
“He hasn’t got the match fitness, so he was feeling a little bit tightness around the groin area. We decided then to take him out.
He continued: “That also impacted a little bit the way, you know, the game went for us in the second half, but now he’s fine.
“We’re hoping that he can have a good recovery this week and be available for the next game.”
Tomislav Uskok – Macarthur Bulls
Macarthur Bulls were forced to do things the hard way on Friday night, coming from behind to defeat Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Not only did the Bulls have to overcome a Brisbane Roar side that were previously undefeated in their last six matches, but they also had to battle the elements on what was a sweltering Friday evening in Campbelltown.
Trailing by a goal to nil at the 60 minute mark, Bulls boss Mile Sterjovski was dealt a big injury blow as influential central defender Tomislav Uskok copped a ball to the head which left him prone inside the penalty area.
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Uskok receives treatment whilst down inside the box
Requiring treatment from the Bulls medical staff, Uskok was ultimately substituted due to the head injury, with Sterjovski confirming after the game his defender was withdrawn due to concussion protocols.
“I think he’s (got a) suspected concussion. So we’ll wait to see tomorrow morning what the what the outcome is.”
What was particularly frustrating for Sterjovski was the fact Uskok suffered the head knock in a situation that he believes shouldn’t have eventuated due to the fact Brisbane Roar forward Justin Vidic was clearly in an offside position.
“It’s the rule that I hate the most,” said Sterjovski with regards to the officials allowing play to continue despite knowing there is a clear offside.
“When it’s an obvious offside, they’ve got to stop it. It stops the players sprinting 50 meters. It stops things like this happening.
“We had to put Liam Rose as a makeshift center back. We had to change things around, all for an offside that was very obvious.”
