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City regain Mooy for A-League clash

Melbourne City welcome back key midfielder Aaron Mooy for Friday night’s clash against Brisbane but coach John van ‘t Schip is playing his cards close to his chest on the availability of fellow Socceroo Ivan Franjic.

Nov 19, 2015, updated Nov 20, 2015
Aaron Mooy. AAP image

Aaron Mooy. AAP image

With his team in seventh place on the ladder, Mooy makes a timely return from international duties for the away encounter against the Roar.

Franjic, who is yet to play a game for his new club as he recovers from a quad injury, will travel with the side to Brisbane but on Thursday van ‘t Schip was coy on what role – if any – his big off-season signing will play.

Van ‘t Schip’s injury woes continued with the loss of defender Aaron Hughes to a calf injury suffered during last week’s disastrous home loss to Western Sydney.

“We have the players in a good head space, hopefully, for the game but it’s a bit uncertain in a few positions where players aren’t there or players are falling away,” van ‘t Schip said.

“I think that’s the biggest issue since we started the season but we have to deal with it.”

Match preview

THURSDAY, Nov 19

Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park 8.00pm AEDT

Head to Head: Victory 14 Mariners 9 drawn 8

Last clash: Round 27 2015-201 – Victory 3 bt Central Coast 1 at AAMI Park

TAB Sportsbet: Victory $1.35 Central Coast $8.50 Draw $5.00

The defending champions are expected to make short work of the struggling Mariners, who will enjoy getting on the road after a scandalous week at home. Despite the dramas, coach Tony Walmsley has vowed to keep attacking and rushed young gun Harry Ascroft straight into the midfield following his recovery from injury. For the Victory, Kevin Muscat’s trio of Olyroos in Scott Galloway, Connor Pain and Giancarlo Gallifuocco return from international duties to a side that has only lost one game this year and haven’t lost to the Mariners at home since 2009.

Key: In a match destined for an old-fashioned shootout, Melbourne have the league’s hottest gunslinger in Besart Berisha, who has found the net 13 times in his past 14 games.

Tip: Victory.

– AAP

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