Dutch marquee Siem de Jong gets Asia nod for Sky Blues’ ACL clash
Dutch marquee Siem de Jong has won the battle to prove his fitness ahead of Sydney FC’s Asian Champions League campaign, despite being sidelined in the A-League with a knee problem.
Dutch marquee Siem de Jong has won the battle to prove his fitness ahead of Sydney FC’s Asian Champions League campaign, despite being sidelined in the A-League with a knee problem.
De Jong has been included in the Sky Blues’ 29-strong ACL squad submitted to the Asian Football Confederation as one of four designated visa players, alongside Milos Ninkovic, Adam Le Fondre and Reza Ghoochannejhad.
It means de Jong’s compatriot, defender Jop van der Linden, misses out on the ACL squad, having also lost his place in the A-League team since suffering injury in the derby.
De Jong is not guaranteed to be fit for either of Sydney’s opening two games in the ACL, at home to Ulsan Hyundai next Wednesday and away to Kawasaki Frontale a week later, as he continues his rehab from an injury suffered last month.
But coach Steve Corica has effectively gambled that de Jong will be ready for the final four games of the ACL campaign, as well as playing a key role in the rest of Sydney’s A-League season which includes two clashes with financial powerhouse Shanghai SIPG.
Though the club said in a rather optimistic statement that van der Linden would “become vital to the club’s chase for a fourth A-League Championship”, his exclusion is another blow for a player who has struggled with the rigours of the A-League since replacing Jordy Buijs.
“We had to leave one player out and it was an extremely tough decision,” said Corica.
“Jop is a fantastic professional, he has a great attitude and we’ll need his experience with a busy schedule towards the end of the season.”
“We are looking forward to a great campaign and the huge challenge of competing against the best of Asian football.
“We’ve been drawn against the Champions of China and Japan, as well as Korea’s third best club, so it’s a difficult task but one we are looking forward to.
“It’s exciting and something different for our players, particularly the younger boys, for whom the experience will one to relish and learn from.”
Sydney’s squad includes a clutch of youth team players promoted for the experience, including exciting young forward Luke Ivanovic.
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