Danish defender Michael Jacobsen holds the key to Melbourne City’s A-League title hopes

MELBOURNE City’s fading title hopes rest on the shoulders of one man and his name is not Bruno Fornaroli, Tim Cahill or Nicolas Colazo.

A calf issue has kept Melbourne City defender Michael Jakobsen out for three weeks and it is unclear when he will return. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE City’s fading title hopes rest on the shoulders of one man.

It’s not Bruno Fornaroli, Tim Cahill or Nicolas Colazo, though they will all play key roles in the home stretch.

Danish defender Michael Jakobsen is City’s most important player right now.

A calf issue has kept Melbourne City defender Michael Jakobsen out for three weeks and it is unclear when he will return. Picture: Getty Images

That’s not to disrespect the aforementioned players, who influence the team in their own unique ways.

Jakobsen is a class, experienced defender but his status has as much to do with City’s defensive imbalance as was displayed last Friday.

Woeful City defending contributed to the 3-1 loss to Sydney, as they lacked the requisite organisation and hardness that title-winners possess including their opponents.

It’s been City’s issue dating back to the Melbourne Heart days though in Jakobsen, who’s won five caps for Denmark and has Spanish top flight experience, they found their best solution yet.

But he has been unsighted since limping off at half-time of the Melbourne derby in Round 18.

Coach Mike Valkanis hinted that Jakobsen would be fit the next week, but he’s now missed three weeks and he is yet to return to full-scale training as they try to pinpoint the root of the calf issue which saw him miss a chunk of games earlier in the season.

It’s no surprise that City are coy on Jakobsen’s return date because they know his importance, as Valkanis alluded to after the Sydney FC loss.

“We’ll analyse every goal, especially the third one, even though we were opening up and getting forward,’’ Valkanis said.

“With the players we have available we’ll keep working on it. It makes a big difference when you’re missing an experienced player like Michael Jakobsen.’’

Asked whether he would be fit for Sunday’s trip to Central Coast, he said: “Fingers crossed. We’re expecting him to be back.’’

Colazo (groin) is expected to return, while Ivan Franjic looked like he hadn’t skipped a beat returning from a two-week absence.

While Manny Muscat copped most of the flak from his sending off, defensive partner Osama Malik didn’t do him any favours with a botched clearance that led to the penalty and a striker’s challenge for the third.

“If things went according to plan and we won, no-one would’ve questioned Manny playing there,” Valkanis said.

Unless they can jag a quality stopper, City cannot win the title without Jakobsen.

Even if and when he returns, they appear a long-shot as they’re leaving themselves with a mountain to climb having dropped to fourth.