Western Sydney Wanderers’ hunt for new striker goes cold
Just a month out from the start of the new A-league season, the Wanderers are still hunting for a new striker but they have received a boost from their captain.
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Western Sydney’s search for a new striker remains fruitless just four weeks from the start of the new season, but captain Mitchell Duke has declared himself fit to answer the call from coach Markus Babbel.
Despite Babbel talking optimistically five weeks ago of discussing terms with at least one potential signing, talks with a number of foreign strikers — including former EPL forward Fraizer Campbell — have led nowhere.
Though the club was linked on Friday with English forward Danny Graham, currently at Blackburn, he is not an active target.
Instead there is optimism that with the closure of the European transfer windows, some players will be more open to considering a move Down Under — and with more affordable pay demands.
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Though Babbel remains hopeful of landing a visa striker in time for the club’s return to Parramatta, hosting the Mariners on October 12, Duke is back in training and ready to lead the line at the new Bankwest Stadium. Tickets for that game and the derby in Round 3 went on sale on Friday.
So confident is he in his recovery from a meniscus torn in late July, Duke has pushed Babbel to involve him in next week’s FFA Cup quarterfinal away to Melbourne City — but club medical staff have insisted that caution prevail and he be held back a week or two longer.
But Duke will exhort his teammates to qualify for the semi-finals on October 1 or 2, to give him the chance to play a competitive game ahead of the A-League season itself.
“The knee is coming along brilliantly, and I feel ready to get going,” Duke said. “If it was up to me I’d be involved next week against City but I also understand why the medicos want to hold me back a bit longer and not take any risks.
“I started running last week so the conditioning side of it will be fine. Game fitness might be tougher but we still have a few pre-season games in which at the very least I’ll be looking to come off the bench.
“I know the boss is looking to get a bit more depth in upfront, and to be fair at the moment there’s only me, Kwame (Yeboah) and the young lad Mohamed Adam.
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“If we got anymore injuries it would be difficult but in the meantime at least I know I’ll be ready for round one, and hopefully the FFA Cup semi-final if we get through.”
Duke is likely to travel to Melbourne in his role as captain, having been elected by his teammates despite only joining last January.
“I was really appreciative of the boys thinking I’m up to it — they’ve given me a hard time since that I’ve changed already, but it’s all just good banter,” he said.
“They’ve been pushing me to go to Melbourne anyway which is a massive compliment about my energy and vibe.
“It’s up to me now to make sure I use that leadership position to help push us back to the top of the table.”
Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers’ hunt for new striker goes cold
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