Big things expected from new Glory signing
Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe predicts new signing Dragan Paljic will slot seamlessly into the squad for its next game against Melbourne Victory at nib Stadium on January 25.
The 31-year-old German winger arrived in Perth at the weekend from Dutch club Heracles Almelo, where he has spent the past two seasons.
He trained with Glory for the first time at UWA Sports Park yesterday in scorching 30C temperatures, which had Danny De Silva suffering from heat exhaustion.
Paljic has been added to the roster in place of injured winger Youssouf Hersi, who is set to miss the rest of the season after injuring a hamstring against Brisbane Roar last month.
Lowe said Paljic had plenty of time to settle in because the A-League was on a three-week hiatus because of the Asian Cup.
"It's a like-for-like, but he's like Youssouf, he's very versatile," Lowe said. "He can play left, play right, play in behind, can even play full-back.
"He's got a good pedigree, he's been at good clubs. A lot of due diligence went into it, he's just got to cope with this West Australian heat.
"You see what it's like today, it's warm. It's difficult to come here and cope with things.
"He's good enough to play, good enough to go."
Paljic has also played in Poland and Germany during his career, winning a league title with Wisla Krakow, a club which has also been represented by former Glory captain Jacob Burns and current skipper Michael Thwaite.
Paljic said it was Socceroo Jason Davidson and his father who convinced him to make the move to the A-League.
Paljic and Davidson played together at Heracles Almelo before the Australian moved to West Bromwich Albion.
"They told me good things about the country and about the football," he said.
"I talked also with former Glory player Branko Jelic and he told me a lot of good things about the team - that they have winning mentality and a good coach who wants to play football. I think it's a good step."
Paljic, who is contracted until the end of the 2014-15 season, hasn't played a game in three months, but said he would be ready to go by the Victory fixture.
The match will pit A-League leaders Perth against the third-placed Victory.
He's got a good pedigree, he's been at good clubs."Kenny Lowe
