A piece of history is on the cards in Western United’s rescheduled Round 13 Isuzu UTE A-League Men clash against Adelaide United in Tarneit on Tuesday night.
Japanese defender Tomoki Imai is back from suspension and will become Western United’s all-time leading appearance maker on the night.
Set to move onto 106 league appearances for the Club, Imai will surpass Connor Pain’s total of 105 to take the outright lead, while Lachie Wales will join Pain in equal second.
Abel Walatee has been promoted into an Isuzu UTE A-League extended squad for the first time and could be in line for his senior debut at Western United.
The 20-year-old has scored three goals in nine VPL 1 Men’s matches for United this season and would become the 11th Western United Academy graduate to make his first-team debut this season.
Walatee joins a strong contingent of Western United youngsters in the extended squad with seven Academy graduates in total amongst the 20 names.
Captain Josh Risdon also returns to the extended squad after serving a one-game suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.
Full Western United extended squad
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 4. James DONACHIE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Michael RUHS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 24. Connor O’TOOLE, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 36. Zach LISOLAJSKI, 37. Luke VICKERY, 39. Matthew GRIMALDI, 41. Oliver LAVALE, 43. Khoder KADDOUR, 45. Abel WALATEE, 49. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 77. Riku DANZAKI
Ins: 6. Tomoki IMAI (returns from suspension), 19. Josh RISDON (returns from suspension), 45. Abel WALATEE (promoted)
Outs: 22. Kane VIDMAR (injured)
Unavailable: 7. Ramy NAJJARINE (injured), 11. Daniel PENHA (injured), 13. Nikita RUKAVYTSYA (injured), 27. Jacob TRATT (injured), 38. Noah BOTIC (injured), 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (injured)
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 13 (rescheduled)
Western United vs Adelaide United
Tuesday, 16 April
Kick-off: 7:00pm AEDT
Regional Football Facility, Tarneit
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
