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Hersi recovery a Glory bonus

Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe will weigh up playing Youssouf Hersi off the bench in Monday’s clash with the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium in what would be the Dutch winger’s first game back from a four-month injury lay-off.

Hersi, 32, has not lined up for Glory since tearing a hamstring in the round-eight win over Brisbane Roar in December. The injury was initially thought to have ended his season.

But he has been in full flight at training over the past fortnight, scoring several goals during training at UWA Sports Park on Tuesday.

The West Australian understands Hersi is close to convincing Lowe and officials that he is ready to play, with a substitution in the final 20 minutes against Newcastle one possibility.

If Hersi is held back, Glory will almost certainly include him on the bench against Sydney at nib Stadium tomorrow week as the club aims to build his game time with a month left until the finals.

Glory also welcomed back Jamie Maclaren, Daniel De Silva and Jack Duncan from Olyroos duties last night ahead of the clash with Newcastle.

Maclaren will be on a high after scoring five goals in three matches to help Australia qualify for next year’s AFC under-23 championship.

Defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths said the Glory squad was as fit as it had been since the early part of the season.

He said it was the right time to bring back Hersi against the Jets, especially with A-League rules allowing an extra player on the bench this season.

“Hersi’s form early on in the season was frightening,” Griffiths said.

“When he started to play really well, he was setting up chances. With the Olyroos boys, we’re playing a 4-4-2 formation now, which suits guys like Jamie Maclaren.

“That’s the sort of people you need to come back.

“It’s a little bit of spark coming into the finals series.”

Glory reverted to the 4-4-2 structure in last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Western Sydney that ended a nine-match winless run.

Griffiths said that Glory could stick with a formation which offered extra support for striker Andy Keogh.

“For the crosses into the box, we had three or four people in the box instead of ones and twos,” he said.

“It was definitely more effective for the team in an attacking sense.

“The good thing about our side is we have that flexibility ... you’re never going to win a league if one person scores all your goals.”

Griffiths rated Glory’s run to finals as the best out of the top five teams.



“If we finish outside the top two I’ll be disappointed,” he said.