Sore groin sidelines Sidnei
Perth Glory winger Sidnei Sciola has been ruled out of the game against Western Sydney at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday with a groin injury.
The exciting Brazilian suffered the injury during last week’s defeat to Melbourne Victory, which all but ended Glory’s slim finals hopes, and was today left out of an 18-man squad for the Wanderers clash.
Ryan Edwards, Josh Risdon and Riley Woodcock all promoted, with two players to be cut on match day.
Senior defenders Michael Thwaite (back) and William Gallas (groin, hamstring) appear likely starters despite struggling with injury in recent weeks, while striker Shane Smeltz is at least one more week away from returning from a groin complaint.
Western Sydney bolstered their squad with the return of Socceroos defender Matthew Spiranovic and Japanese marquee player Shinji Ono.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic could make several changes to his starting line-up after securing a 1-0 win over Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League mid-week.
Glory are one of just two clubs yet to beat Western Sydney since the expansion club entered the A-League last season.
The WA side is winless in nine matches and rooted to the foot of the A-League ladder with four matches to play in the regular season.
With finals seemingly out of the question, the playing group has moved to refocus its attention on avoiding what would be the first wooden spoon in Glory’s 18-year history.
An unlikely win over the Wanderers would give Glory hope of catching ninth-placed Melbourne Heart, who host Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Saturday.
