Sydney FC striker Matt Simon to miss Melbourne City match after receiving one-match ban

SYDNEY FC will be without Matt Simon for Saturday’s trip to Melbourne City and appear likely to also be missing captain Alex Brosque.

SYDNEY FC will be without Matt Simon for Saturday’s trip to Melbourne City and appear likely to also be missing captain Alex Brosque.

Simon was banned by the A-League’s match review panel on Tuesday for one game, after striking Jake McGing off the ball in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Mariners.

Though the club made a submission in mitigation, Simon was as expected found guilty of “serious unsporting conduct” and received the minimum penalty that the panel could hand down.

Brosque meanwhile has had scans on his troublesome hamstring, and though the results are thought to be inconclusive, the Sky Blues captain is a significant doubt for Saturday’s game.

Brosque came off straight after scoring his second goal of the night in the win over the Central Coast, feeling tightness in the same hamstring where a strain had kept him out of the previous two games.

Sydney’s players have a day off today [Weds] and a decision on Brosque’s availabiity is likely to wait until Thursday, though with marquee striker Filip Holosko - and Shane Smeltz, if he is recovered from a persistent groin injury - available again, Brosque is likely to be rested and given time to recover before Sydney face Newcastle on January 9 at ANZ Stadium.

Meanwhile City are likely to bring high-profile imports Robert Koren and Aaron Hughes back into the starting XI, after losing 3-1 to Brisbane Roar on Sunday. That defeat ended a run of four wins in which City scored 16 goals, but they remain above Sydney on goal difference in third place.

Originally published as Sydney FC striker Matt Simon to miss Melbourne City match after receiving one-match ban