The return and inclusion of striker Bruce Djite into Adelaide United FC’s squad to face Melbourne Heart at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night (Friday 4 November 2011) could arguably not have come at a better time.
In a week where many of United’s squad have had to front up and deal with the nightmare of a humbling defeat to Brisbane Roar, Djite is one player who does not carry any personal scars from last Friday night’s encounter.
The Reds’ number 11 has not played since suffering a groin injury after coming on in the dying minutes of the Week 2 win over Melbourne Victory on October 14.
When the prognosis of Djite’s injury revealed a significant groin tear, it was expected Gold Coast United’s leading scorer from last season would be out of action for up to a month. But what is a day less than three weeks since the setback occurred, Djite is back and delighted to be available for a game in which the Reds have a chance to respond and make amends.
“The rehab has gone pretty smoothly. Initially it was thought to be a four week groin tear, but I was back to full training in two weeks and I think that’s got a lot to do with the process and the way the medical staff treated me here,” Djite said.
“I’ve really got to give a shout out to them (the medical staff) because of the way they handled my injury to get me back ahead of schedule, the way they’ve done it is testament to them and I’m fit and ready to go.”
While Djite was not part of the heavy loss against the Roar, the 24 year old still felt the disappointment of the result and is just as driven as the players that took the field that night at Suncorp to make a statement that the Reds are a force to be reckoned with.
“I think everyone has got a lot to prove now. Training has been fantastic this week, everyone’s fit, so the competition for places is hotter than it was before and everyone has got to put their hand up now and show a bit of character and show what we’re about,” Djite said.
“I’m convinced in the group, we’re all convinced in ourselves and we’ve got self confidence, and I think we need to show the fans that we are a good team and that we’re going to do them proud.”
“I’m sure if we do a good job against Melbourne Heart and then in the next couple of weeks and next couple of months, come the business end of the season if we’re there or thereabouts, not everyone is going to be talking about the Brisbane Roar game.”
“You lose one game and it doesn’t make the players bad players…it doesn’t make it a bad team, a bad club and season over. It’s very early days and we’re looking forward to the Melbourne Heart game.”
Despite Djite only playing 93 minutes so far this season, the lure of him combining with another of the two Reds’ potent goal scorers, Sergio van Dijk and Dario Vidosic, is something Head Coach Rini Coolen could find hard to resist against the Heart.
“We have some changes in our mind for a few reasons, not only because we lost last week, but also that we can play a different style and a different way of playing, especially when players come back from injury like Bruce Djite,” Coolen said.
“It’s good to have him back, and for tomorrow finally Bruce is available with Sergio (van Dijk) and Dario (Vidosic).”
“It’s actually the first time we can use all three of them from the start of the game and more than likely they will start the game, but we will wait to get confirmation today in the training session.”
The enticement for Coolen having Djite, Vidosic and van Dijk as a three pronged attack is that it gives the Reds a number of formations they can go with as they attempt to record their second win the season.
While the rivalry between the Reds and the Heart may not yet have reached the same level as that of Adelaide United and the Hyundai A-League’s other Victorian club Melbourne Victory, Coolen believes this game will possess the similar high emotion and tension of a Reds versus Victory clash as the Heart are desperate to chalk up their first win.
“It think they (Melbourne Heart) were pretty unlucky in a couple of games, especially the last one conceding a goal from a corner that wasn’t a corner, they did everything to change that game…they took a lot of risks, they’ve got a lot of good individual players and they’re a very good team,” Coolen said.
“They’re the same us, looking for points, looking for confidence and they are in the same situation as us…and we all know that the most important thing for both teams is to collect some points.”
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 5
Adelaide United FC v Melbourne Heart
Friday 4 November 2011, Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 7.30pm ACDT (8.00pm AEDT)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Tickets: Available through Ticketek (call 132 849, online at www.ticketek.com.au)
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Radio: ABC Radio (891 ABC Adelaide, ABC SA, Grandstand Digital, online at www.abc.net.au/adelaide)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #HALaumh)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Osama MALIK, 4.Jon McKAIN (c), 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.Evgeniy LEVCHENKO, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Spase DILEVSKI, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Francisco USUCAR, 22.Milan SUSAK, 23.Andy SLORY
*two to be omitted*
In: Bruce DJITE (returns from injury), Cameron WATSON (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Heart squad: 1.Clint Bolton (gk), 2.Michael Marrone, 3.Brendan Hamill, 4.Simon Colosimo, 5.Fred, 6.Matt Thompson, 7.Rutger Worm, 8.Kristian Sarkies, 9.Maycon, 10.Wayne Srhoj, 11.Alex Terra, 13.Jonatan Germano, 15.David Williams, 16.Aziz Behich, 17.Jason Hoffman, 23.Mate Dugandzic, 25.Adrian Madaschi, 30.Sebastian Mattei (gk)
*two to be omitted*
In: Fred (returns from injury), Kristian Sarkies (promoted), Adrian Madaschi (pending clearance)
Out: Curtis Good (International Duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: Kamal Ibrahim (Ankle – 3 Weeks), Kliment Taseski (Foot Fracture – Long Term), Nick Kalmar (Back – 4 Weeks)
Adelaide United FC vs. Melbourne Heart – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record:
Played 3 – 2 wins, 1 loss
17-Dec-2010… L 1-2… 2010/11 Wk 19 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Nov-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Wk 15 (AAMI Park)
20-Aug-2010… W 3-2… 2010/11 Wk 3 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 2; Adelaide United 1, Melbourne Heart 1, Draws 0
At AAMI Park
Played 1; Adelaide United 1, Melbourne Heart 0, Draws 0
Last time they met
17-Dec-2010 Week 19, Hyundai A-League 2010/11 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United 1 (van Dijk 45+1’)
Melbourne Heart 2 (Colosimo 88’, Aloisi 90+2’)
Adelaide United last three results
Wk 4. 28-10-2011… L 1-7… vs. Brisbane Roar (Suncorp Stadium)
Wk 3. 22/10/11… L 1-2… vs. Sydney FC (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 2. 14-10-2011… W 1-0… vs. Melbourne Victory (Hindmarsh Stadium)
More News
