Melbourne City star Ross McCormack’s high praise for ‘teammate’ Mile Jedinak
MILE Jedinak’s World Cup qualifying campaign has polarised opinion at times. But one keen observer is in no doubt about the quality the Socceroos captain possesses.
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MILE Jedinak’s World Cup qualifying campaign has polarised opinion at times.
But one man who has watched him up close for many years in England is in no doubt about the quality the Socceroos captain possesses.
Melbourne City’s Ross McCormack is technically still Jedinak’s teammate at Aston Villa given the Scottish striker is in the A-League on loan from the English Championship club.
He’s only really played in the same side as Jedinak for six months - the first half of last season - but McCormack has watched and played against the Australian midfielder in the English second tier for many years, namely when Jedinak was at Crystal Palace and McCormack at Leeds United earlier this decade.
And the one-time Championship golden boot winner is a huge fan of Jedinak’s game.
“Of course I rate him, highly,” McCormack said.
“He’s had a good career. He did well at Crystal Palace, got them promoted, helped them stay in the Premier League.
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“He comes to Aston Villa, last season he was arguably our best player in terms of the impact he had.
“We were struggling at times and we needed big characters like Mile to drag us through the mire. He did that and he was excellent.”
Jedinak’s availability for the second leg of Australia’s World Cup qualifying playoff with Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday night is one of the key selection issues facing coach Ange Postecoglou.
Jedinak’s year has been plagued by a persistent groin injury on which he had surgery in June.
He has only just recently got back on the park for Villa, but played a valiant and crucial 90-minute role in Australia’s 0-0 draw with the Hondurans in San Pedro Sula on Saturday.
Having only played one other full game since April - the Socceroos qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Adelaide in June - doubt surrounds Jedinak’s capacity to back up at ANZ Stadium, particularly given the long haul flight from Central America and the dodgy pitch upon which both teams played on the weekend.
That Mark Milligan, suspended for the first leg, is available again would offset Jedinak’s benching should that transpire.
But McCormack revealed his admiration for Jedinak’s approach to his fitness regimen.
“This year it’s been a bit tough for him, he’s been injured and missed a lot of pre-season,” McCormack said.
“But he’s such a fit lad, generally, he keeps himself in great shape all year round. It’s a credit to him.”
Originally published as Melbourne City star Ross McCormack’s high praise for ‘teammate’ Mile Jedinak