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Adelaide United hit by triple injury blow

3 minute read

Adelaide coach Carl Veart says losing star striker Tomi Juric for Saturday's A-League clash with Brisbane Roar at Dolphin Stadium is a big blow.

TOMI JURIC of Australia.
TOMI JURIC of Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Adelaide United have suffered a triple injury blow for Saturday's A-League match against Brisbane Roar with star striker Tomi Juric, Spaniard Javi Lopez and midfielder Ryan Strain all ruled out.

Juric (groin) and Lopez (calf) pulled up sore from Saturday's 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory and are only expected to miss one match.

Strain is set to miss at least five weeks after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury.

"It's a very similar injury in the same sort of area," Adelaide coach Carl Veart said of Strain.

"Ryan will be out for five, maybe six weeks now.

"We'll go a bit different with the way we treated it last time, because he ticked all the boxes to get back and train, and he's broken down in a similar area.

"So we'll take a little bit more time now to get him back."

Veart conceded the loss of Juric was a big blow but he was happy to err on the side of caution with both him and Lopez

"If tomorrow was a Cup final they'd both be available to play," Veart said.

"But we didn't want to take the risk ... so they'll stay home and be available for next week's game.

"It's a big blow (losing Juric). I think he's one of the best strikers in the country.

"But it's fine, because Stefan Mauk comes straight back in. That's a huge plus for us as well."

Juric's injury means 16-year-old Mohamed Toure, who has scored a goal in each of his past two matches, is set to play as the lone striker up front against the Roar at Dolphin Stadium.

With his 20-year-old brother Al Hassan Toure to be named on the bench after recovering from injury, the siblings have a chance to play with each other.

"It would be excellent. They're both very destructive forwards," Veart said.

"If I was a defender, I wouldn't want them playing against me.

"If things go well for us, we'll be looking to give him (Al Hassan) 20, 30 minutes off the bench."

Brisbane will be aiming to make it three wins on the trot after defeating Newcastle and Melbourne Victory in their past two games.

STATS THAT MATTER

* Adelaide have won five of their past six A-League games against Brisbane (L1), including a 1-0 win when they last met in July 2020.

* Brisbane are winless in their past three home games in the A-League (D1, L2). The last time they went longer without a win at home was a four-game stretch from December 2018 to January 2019 (D1, L3).

*A delaide have scored three goals in the 76th minute or later this A-League season, more than any other team.

(Stats by Opta)

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