Concern over Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson grows after striker limps out of training

ARCHIE Thompson is on track to feature in next week’s Melbourne derby but Victory captain Carl Valeri looks set to miss Saturday’s clash with Western Sydney.

ARCHIE Thompson is on track to feature in the Melbourne derby on Saturday week but Melbourne Victory captain Carl Valeri looks set to miss Saturday’s clash with Western Sydney.

Thompson is expected to return to training on Thursday morning after he was cleared of injury having sent a scare through the Victory camp as he left training early clutching the right knee that was operated on in September.

Valeri meanwhile sent shudders through the camp last week when he had to be carted off Gosch’s Paddock, with subsequent tests revealing he’d contracted a virus.

The midfielder is yet to train since and remains a serious doubt for the table-topping clash with the Wanderers, where he scored a cracker last season.

Thompson has been training with the main squad for over a week and while he is unlikely to travel to Perth for Wednesday’s clash with Perth Glory, he’s a chance for the City game.

Leigh Broxham, who’s worn the captain’s armband in Valeri’s absence, revealed that the fellow veteran was ill.

“He’s got a virus at the moment so he’s not well, but I think he’s coming good,’’ Broxham said.

“He missed last week, that was last minute type thing, so hopefully he’s back sooner than later because he’s very important to us.’’

Victory and the Wanderers have developed a strong rivalry in three short years, and have had some epic clashes in that time.

The Wanderers crumbled in the A-League last season, but the resurgence proves that the hectic schedule combined with the Asian Champions League had much to do with it.

Victory trail the Wanderers by three points but have a game in hand, and Broxham said the team was desperate to return to the field after last week’s pitch and strip clash fiasco in Auckland.

Thompson looks set to overcome injury concerns in time for the Melbourne derby.

“Western Sydney are doing well and we were doing well until last week, which was difficult but we’re very eager to get the ball down and play some good football and test ourselves,’’ he said.

“It was hard to say (what happened) last year, they’ve brought in some quality players and it was just a matter of time before they started doing well again.’’

Heading the list of quality signings is former Victory midfielder Mitch Nichols, who has scored five and been involved in many more Wanderers goals.

“He’s always been able to do it, he was flying with us before he left. He had a bit of a rough patch but he’s coming into his prime years,’’ Broxham said.

“He’s a very good player so once he was in a good environment there’s no doubt that he was able to do what he’s doing and he’ll keep doing it.’’

Originally published as Concern over Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson grows after striker limps out of training