Western United duo Noah Botic and Abel Walatee are fit and ready to go for Wednesday night’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 14 fixture against Central Coast Mariners.
The pair of attackers were both substituted during United’s last fixture – a 3-1 win over Newcastle Jets – but a 12-day break has come at the perfect time.
Botic starred in that game with a brace, taking his tally to six on the season and three in his last two appearances for United.
Walatee continues to shine in a breakout campaign for the 20-year-old and will be eager to score his first home goal in the Isuzu UTE A-League with three strikes on the road in his 15 appearances thus far.
Also amongst the names on the 20-man extended squad is Michael Vonja, the 19-year-old goalkeeper being promoted for the first time this season.
Following Tom Heward-Belle’s departure from the Club after the victory over the Jets, Vonja will support Matt Sutton in goal with recent scholarship signing Alex Nassiep completing the shot-stopping contingent under Michael Theo.
Jake Najdovski and James York both come into the extended squad having missed out on the matchday 18 last time out and will be hoping to push for selection.
On the injury front, United’s casualty list is set to be shortened in the coming weeks with a number of players returning to full training, including Sebastian Pasquali who has not played since November.
Full Western United A-League Men extended squad
Western United squad: 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 77. Riku DANZAKI
Ins: 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 34. James YORK, 70. Michael VONJA (promoted)
Outs: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (departed)
Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (injured), 29. Charbel SHAMOON (injured), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
