Melbourne Victory midfielder Marcos Flores will miss Saturday’s clash against Brisbane Roar, with the club choosing not to risk the Argentine midfielder.
Melbourne Victory midfielder Marcos Flores will miss Saturday’s clash against Brisbane Roar, with the club choosing not to risk the Argentine midfielder.
Flores has been sidelined since February 16 with a groin strain, but is expected to return against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Saturday week.
“We really need to get him training the whole week,” coach Ange Postecoglou said on Friday.
“It would be silly of us to try and rush people back at this stage.
“In terms of the injury I think he’s just about recovered, but we like to get them to train for a whole week and we know he’ll be absolutely tip-top for Sydney.”
Postecoglou said teenage defender Nick Ansell will return to training next week in his recovery from a groin injury.
“Everyone else is really good, we’ve got a couple in rehab; (Gui) Finkler won’t feature but Nick Ansell is out running next week which will be great and making a late dash for the finals,” he said.
Postecoglou insists he harbours no resentment towards former club Roar, likening the ongoing storyline to that of a soap opera.
Postecoglou guided Brisbane to two championships in as many seasons, but was met with a hostile reception upon his return to Suncorp Stadium as Victory boss last October.
Victory face Roar in Brisbane again on Saturday, needing a win to keep in touch with the league-leading Western Sydney Wanderers and second-placed Central Coast Mariners.
“That story is done and dusted,” Postecoglou said.
“It ain’t the Bold and the Beautiful; we’re not making stories out of nothing.
“There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then and I think there are a lot more important things for people to focus on than my fragile feelings.”
Victory are eight points behind the Wanderers with four matches to play, and have set their sights on a strong run into the finals.
“The finish line is in sight and you want to be hitting that finishing tape with your chest out rather than crawling on your knees,” Postecoglou said.
“Once we get to finals we’ll feel good about ourselves, so from our perspective it’s about looking forward.
“I know we’re going to be finishing in that top four, but the most important thing is we’re charging into those finals.
“If we can sneak into a top two, fantastic, if not, I’d rather go in there with a few wins in the last few games than limping over the line.”
