Time running out for Leijer
February 03, 2012 15:20:40 UK
Melbourne Victory skipper Adrian Leijer's participation in the Melbourne derby is in doubt as the central defender's injured shoulder still hasn't completely healed.
Leijer picked up the injury in Victory's recent draw with Gold Coast United and, although he is not 100 per cent fit at the moment, the club management intend to put him through a late fitness test.
Melbourne Victory are 2.50 to beat Melbourne Heart, who themselves are 2.80 to get the win. A draw between the two sides can be backed at 3.40.
Victory coach Jim Magilton said that, with just 24 hours to go to the match, time is running out for Leijer to recover from his shoulder injury.
"We are going to assess him again tomorrow. He's in good hands with the medical department. Obviously the turnaround is pretty quick. We will see what he is like tomorrow afternoon but he's the skipper and it's a derby and he wants to play," Magilton said.
The Northern Irishman added: "Maybe he has to play a little bit cleverer. Maybe he has to think about that with the person he is playing against. He's a centre-half. He knows once he steps out on the park, he is going to have that physical confrontation.
"The first thing you can put your house on is that X marks the spot and, as a professional footballer, we've all been there.
"If you're carrying an injury, someone is going to bump into you or kick you. It will be the first spot. Players have a sixth sense about this. He's well aware of that and we aren't going to take chances. But we will see how he is."
View all Soccer betting