Key stars struggling with injury as Wanderers get set for battle of the Westerns with new-boys United

The Wanderers are almost certain to be shorn of the ‘conductor of the orchestra’ as well as a Socceroos star for their intriguing visit to Geelong for the A-League battle of the Westerns.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 02: Pirmin Schwegler of the Wanderers receives attention from the trainer during the round four A-League match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Brisbane Roar at Bankwest Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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THEY’RE joint top after four games, but the Wanderers face a manpower crisis for next weekend’s battle of the Westerns.

Markus Babbel’s side is almost certain to be shorn of two key figures when they travel to face Western United next Saturday, the stakes for which intensified after the A-League new-boys shocked Melbourne Victory with a 3-2 win on Saturday.

Western Sydney had earlier laboured to a goalless draw with Brisbane Roar on Saturday at Bankwest Stadium, and though the point took them top again - at least until Melbourne City won on Sunday - it came at some cost.

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Pirmin Schwegler receives attention during the draw with Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

Pirmin Schwegler, the Swiss midfield terrier dubbed the team’s best player by his teammates, limped off early in the game with a calf injury while Socceroos centreback Matt Jurman also suffered a soft-tissue injury.

Both will have scans on Monday but were in some discomfort after the game and are in significant doubt for the trip to Geelong to face an exultant Western United side sitting in fourth.

Mark Rudan’s side brushed off a two-goal deficit to storm over the top of Victory, the visitors failing to win from a 2-0 lead for the first time in their history.

Though Babbel has a replacement for Jurman in Patrick Ziegler, Schwegler’s injury will be keenly felt according to compatriot Alex Meier.

“He's the most important player for us, he's the best player we have,” Meier said.

“He is the guy who is like the conductor of the orchestra.

“That's what he is for us and if he is missing, of course it's going to be difficult. But we can't have an excuse just because one or two players are missing. We have enough players and everybody is good.

Nicolai Muller is about to be tackled by Brisbane’s Aiden O’Neill.

“Even though we didn't play so well (against Brisbane), we keep fighting for each other and the result was OK because the other team didn't have so great chances either.”

Meier himself was left to rue a missed chance late in the game against Brisbane after new signing Nicolai Muller came off the bench to set him up for a shot straight at Roar keeper Max Crocombe.

“I had two chances today – I could have scored,” Meier admitted.

“I'm happy that I at least get chances but all of us weren't good in the offence and defence, not working together.

“We weren't sharp, we weren't aggressive enough, especially in the beginning. The second half was a little better but the other team was controlling the game.

“The game was not good from us but as we didn't get a goal, getting a point (was positive). If someone had said that after four games we'd have four points, everyone would be happy I think.

“You saw already (from Muller) – he has a good first touch, he can turn, he can create. He has great ideas and will help us a lot.”