Western United ALM Team News: Round 7 vs Central Coast

Western United will hit the road in Round 7 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and John Aloisi has an unchanged extended squad to choose from as his side takes on Central Coast Mariners.

The Green and Black has performed at a high level over the last month but the results have not gone the right way, and Aloisi and the squad are keeping the faith and sticking together.

In positive news, Aloisi revealed in his pre-match press conference that centre-back James Donachie had completed his first week of full training with the team.

Recovering from a calf injury, Donachie is yet to feature in the league this season but Aloisi is hopeful that the No.4’s debut is right around the corner.

Donachie will be given the chance to build his fitness over the weekend, along with Rhys Bozinovski who Aloisi also said is looking sharper by the day after a lay-off from a groin operation last season.

Ramy Najjarine has started the last two matches and will look to make it a hat-trick this weekend as he and Riku Danzaki continue to compete for minutes on the wing.

Noah Botic and Nikita Rukavytsya saw their first piece of action alongside each other up front last week, and they will hope to link up again whether it be from the start or with one coming off the bench.

It very quickly looked like a dangerous partnership in the final third and Daniel Penha, Lachie Wales and co. behind them will be hoping to feed them goal-scoring opportunities in Gosford.

Former Mariners Tom Heward-Belle and Michael Ruhs will be eager to feature against their old side with Aloisi himself also returning to a familiar place, having played for and gone to a Grand Final with Central Coast in the 2007/08 season.

Full Western United extended squad

Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Michael RUHS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Daniel PENHA, 13. Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 24. Connor O’TOOLE, 27. Jacob TRATT, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 38. Noah BOTIC, 39. Matthew GRIMALDI, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 77. Riku DANZAKI

Ins: 9. Michael Ruhs, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured)