Western United boss John Aloisi has named his first extended squad of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season as the Green and Black open the campaign against Wellington Phoenix.
The 20-man squad features new signings Hiroshi Ibusuki and Tate Russell who will be hoping to make their league debuts for United after joining in the off-season.
Ben Garuccio is in line to lead the way for his first league match as Western United captain, with vice-captain and all-time leading appearance maker Tomoki Imai in support.
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Almost half of the squad is populated by Western United Academy graduates with nine young stars in the list coming directly from the Club’s pathway system in the west of Melbourne.
One of those is Matthew Grimaldi who will be looking to take the next step after his breakout season last term, while another is would-be debutant Dylan Leonard.
At 17 years and 159 days old, Leonard would become United’s youngest ever men’s player if he were to make the matchday squad and feature on Sunday.
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Having been on the sidelines since March, Noah Botic has worked his way to full fitness and has been named in the extended squad, while Angus Thurgate and Rhys Bozinovski have overcome pre-season knocks to also be in contention.
Young defender Kane Vidmar has been involved in recent pre-season action and will continue working towards selection, while Ramy Najjarine and Khoder Kaddour remain United’s only long-term absentees.
Full Western United Extended Squad
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 4. James DONACHIE, 5. Oliver LAVALE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY, 77. Riku DANZAKI
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 7. Ramy NAJJARINE (injured), 41. Besian KUTLESHI (international duty), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
