3 minute read

Craig Goodwin is due to leave isolation the same day Adelaide United take on Central Coast in Gosford and could potentially make a late dash to the ALM game.

Adelaide United are hoping Craig Goodwin will be cleared to leave isolation and make his way to Gosford for their crucial A-League Men clash with Central Coast.

Goodwin missed the current Socceroos squad due to being a COVID-19 close contact but is due to leave isolation on Saturday, hours before the Reds take on the Mariners.

Pending a negative PCR test, third-placed Adelaide will make a decision on Saturday morning as to whether Goodwin will travel.

"We believe he will come out tomorrow so then it's just a matter of whether we bring him up tomorrow night or leave him at home," coach Carl Veart said.

"We'll see how he pulls up. It's been a little bit difficult for him in isolation, not being able to train so we'll just have to wait and see

"It's not too bad, it's a fly-in, fly-out thing. It's not too much. Sydney's only a two-hour flight, then an hour in the car up to Gosford. It's not ideal but it can be done.

"Goody's a great athlete, a true professional and we know he can (do it) because when he came in quarantine last year, he was in quarantine for 14 days and came out and he had one training session and he played for us and scored.

"We know he can do it, it's just a matter of whether we want to take that risk with a very important player in this time in the season."

Veart stressed the importance of beating the in-form Mariners, who sit eighth but are eyeing a late run at finals.

"This is a game that could set our season up because there's a lot of teams chasing us and Central Coast are one of those teams," he said.

Adelaide beat the Mariners 2-1 courtesy of a 92nd-minute goal on February 26.

"It's still a little bit raw," Mariners coach Nick Montgomery said.

"That game, we deserved to win the game.

"We went 1-0 up. We had numerous opportunities to kill the game off and we copped two scrappy set pieces.

"We've learned and moved on from that."

The Mariners are still without Kye Rowles, who missed out on Socceroos camp after a positive PCR test and is in isolation.