Stefan Mauk unveiled as Adelaide United player again, four years after sparking Reds’ A-League title
Stefan Mauk can again be Adelaide United’s “missing piece” of the jigsaw according to former teammate Bruce Djite, four years after the SA-born midfielder sparked the Reds’ maiden A-League championship.
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Bruce Djite says Stefan Mauk was the “missing piece” of Adelaide United’s title-winning jigsaw, when his mid-season arrival sparked the club’s maiden championship success.
The ex-Reds striker, now director of football, predicted a similar impact from his former teammate, as the SA-born midfielder rejoined his hometown team four years on.
“Hopefully he’s the missing piece for this season as well,” said Djite of Mauk.
“He brings energy, he brings quality, he’s an attacking threat, he works extremely hard, he can get up and attack, he can get back and defend.
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“It’s about bringing better quality every time you make a signing.
“I think our midfield now is the best in the league.”
The ex-Australian youth international scored three goals in the second half of the victorious 2015/16 campaign, bringing a combative edge and creativity to the Reds’ engine room.
Mauk, who will not be available for Saturday night’s home clash with Melbourne City, was looking forward to a fresh start in familiar surrounds.
“I know the direction of the club is going in a really good way,” said Mauk, who managed just 14 games in 18 months at the Roar.
“At this point in my career, it’s really important to play and be part of a team that’s playing a really exciting style of football.
“There was nothing really too bad about Brisbane.
“But it was just probably a bit of personal preference, in the way they were playing didn’t suit me as much.
“Once I found out Adelaide were interested, for me it just seemed like the right decision to make.”
It seemingly put an end to speculation linking midfielder James Troisi with an exit, just four months after he joined.
But the 37-cap Socceroo will sit out the next two-three weeks with a quadricep injury, having only returned from missing two games with a hamstring problem.
Playmaker Riley McGree remains a 50/50 chance for the fifth-placed Reds’ Hindmarsh meeting with second-ranked City, also due to a foot issue sustained in training this week.
Coach Gertjan Verbeek said the addition of Mauk will add depth and competition for places in a squad hit hard by injuries this term.
“You will get suspended players, you get injured players until the end of the season,” said Verbeek, who also welcomes back Norwegian forward Kristian Opseth (adductor).
“It’s become a rat race for the first six positions, who will play in the playoffs.
“If you have a bad day or you’re not focused very well or not switched on, then you can lose your games.
“If everybody is highly-motivated to bring their best into the game, we can also win from Melbourne City.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide United W-League striker Mary Fowler has left the club to pursue an opportunity with French side Montpellier.
The Matildas teenager was the Reds’ joint leading scorer this season with three strikes in seven outings.
Football SA National Training Centre product Ella Tonkin and Adelaide Comets’ Victoria Mansueto will join United for its remaining three games.
Adelaide, already out of finals contention, travels to face bottom-placed Newcastle Jets in its rescheduled round-nine fixture on Saturday night.