Adelaide United is counting the cost of its goalless draw with Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday night with in-form striker Bruce Djite ruled out for up to a month with a quad injury.

United coach Josep Gombau said Djite was withdrawn at half-time in the clash against the Sky Blues after feeling some discomfort.

Djite was targeted early by Sydney defensive duo Sasa Ognenovski and Nikola Petkovic but Gombau denied the injury was due to the special attention.

The Reds’ target man had been in red-hot form scoring five goals so far this season, two in the A-League and three in the FFA Cup, and will now miss United’s Cup semi-final clash against Central Coast at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.

“He feels a problem in his quadriceps,” Gombau said.

“He asked to stop because we don’t want to take a risk.

“It’s something that happens … it’s a muscular problem and this can happen jumping, running.”

While the Reds will be without Djite for their semi-final Cup tie, they could welcome back Spanish recruit Pablo Sanchez and speedster Fabio Ferreira.

Gombau said the five-day turnaround would not pose a problem for United, however Saturday’s clash against Wellington at Coopers Stadium could prove more difficult with just three days to prepare for the Phoenix.

“The Cup game is not the problem because it’s five days and five days is enough,” Gombau said.

“The problem will be on Saturday when we will have just three days (to prepare).

“We need to see how we manage … we need to see if Fabio is ready, if Pablo is ready.

“But we need to go game-by-game and now the most important is Central Coast, the Cup game, and not think in Wellington – Wellington will come after we finish the game against Central Coast.”

Gombau remains confident the undefeated Reds will continue to fire without their in-form forward despite not being able to find the net against Sydney on Friday night.

United had a host of chances, even after Djite had been substituted, and Gombau said on another day the Reds could have easily notched up three goals.

But, the Spanish tactician said a draw was probably a fair result and just rewards for his side’s failure to break the deadlock.

“I think that it was a very good game. I think that we played a very good football, also Sydney,” Gombau said.

“In the end if you ask me if the result is fair, I need to tell you yes. Why? Because we don’t put the ball in (the net).

“But I am not worried because playing like this if you miss 10 chances for sure another day you will score (those chances).

“If you keep this standard of football and you can create 10 chances like we did then for sure normally you will score two or three and you win the game.”

Friday, 7 November
Adelaide United 0
Sydney FC 0
16,015 @ Coopers Stadium