Wanderers’ recruit Patrick Ziegler sidelined for month

WESTERN Sydney Wanderers defender Patrick Ziegler will miss the start of the A-League season after undergoing knee surgery.

WESTERN Sydney Wanderers defender Patrick Ziegler will miss the start of the A-League season after undergoing knee surgery.

Wanderers coach Markus Babbel revealed the newly recruited German stopper sustained a meniscus injury that would sideline him for four weeks — up to the first three rounds.

The news followed what the coach described as a “disaster” 3-0 FFA Cup semi-final defeat to derby rivals Sydney FC. The Wanderers had the better of the first half at Panthers Stadium, even without Ziegler and first-choice goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, and with a youthful side boasting considerably less experience than the Sky Blues.

The coach offered praise to young midfielders Keanu Baccus, 20, and Kosta Grozos, 18, who faced well-established pairing Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill in an area of the park new Wanderers signing Rashid Mahazi could soon be introduced.

FRESH FACE: Teen on track for debut

Patrick Ziegler has gone for knee surgery.

“You saw Sydney have a lot of experience on the pitch,” Babbel said. “We started with two or three 20-year-old boys. They will learn, and the other players will learn from defeats like this.”

Babbel saw a “definite improvement” after last weekend’s 4-0 loss to Newcastle but called for more.

“We have to work harder,” he said. “There has to be a mentality that you win games like this.

“You saw on the technical and tactical side we were better than them.

“We had more control over the game, we created many good chances to 100 per cent goal chances but couldn’t score.”

Babbel hoped Janjetovic might return for an upcoming pre-season friendly with Melbourne City, but veteran Mark Bridge (calf) remains some three weeks away.

Kearyn Baccus was also absent from the matchday squad a fortnight after his latest show of dissent during last month’s quarter-final win over City.

The 27-year-old reacted to his second-half substitution by walking straight down the players’ tunnel and throwing his shirt to the ground.