Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz could warm bench despite epic scoring record against Victory

SHANE Smeltz’s scoring record against Melbourne Victory won’t guarantee the striker a starting spot against the champions, but Graham Arnold believes he’s just as dangerous of the bench.

Sydney FC's Shane Smeltz celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during their A-League soccer match against Melbourne Victory at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, NSW. Picture David Moir 14/2/2015

HE may have scored a stunning winning goal in the derby last week, and boast an incredible scoring record against Melbourne Victory, but that won’t guarantee Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz a starting place against the champions.

Fifteen goals in 21 appearances against Victory confirms how much Smeltz enjoys confronting Kevin Muscat’s side, but the veteran striker may have to settle for an impact role at Etihad Stadium.

Smeltz came off the bench 10 days ago to win the derby for Sydney in the last minute, but Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold insisted his choice of strikeforce against Victory is not a foregone conclusion, in a high-stakes game where a home win would lift them above Sydney on the ladder.

Shane Smeltz scored four goals from the bench against the Victory last season. Picture: Mark Evans

Arnold began the season with Smeltz as his first choice but has used him mostly as a substitute in recent weeks – a role he said could provide the striker with the platform to succeed on Tuesday night.

“Not necessarily,” Arnold said when asked if Smeltz could expect to start. “Matty Simon did a great job last week (against Western Sydney), and that’s the benefit of building a strong squad at the start of the year.

“Young George Blackwood did a great job for me in previous games and Shane Smeltz has an excellent record. He scored four goals against Melbourne Victory for us last season and all four came off the bench.

“He’s got a great knack when he comes off the bench of being in the right place at the right time to score goals against tired defences.

“I’ll make my mind up on the day but for me it doesn’t matter who starts, it’s about us getting three points and thinking of the team first.”

Victory will be without up to five players of their own who were on Olyroos duty, while Sydney will be missing captain Alex Brosque, still a week at least away from recovery from a hamstring injury.

Arnold is unlikely to start Alex Gersbach, the young leftback who only returned from Olyroos duty early on Monday, but the Sydney coach was adamant that reports of an offer for Gersbach from Denmark are wide of the mark.

“There’s speculation all the time, but we have had no concrete offer,” Arnold said. “Obviously Alex is a kid who has ambition, he doesn’t hide that. He often says that overseas is where he wants to go.

“[But] there’s nothing in writing, there’s no firm offers. Maybe Alex’s mind has changed now that the Olyroos have failed to qualify for the Olympics. I know he was looking forward to that enormously and being part of that.

“Maybe that was the opportunity for him to stay with Sydney FC. The most important thing is we’re trying to keep him. We want him to stay here in Sydney. I believe he needs another year here in the A-League. The agents probably don’t but what I have at heart is good for the kid and his career.

“If he does leave it has to be a place where he is going to play and play regularly and not sit and watch because otherwise if he does that he’ll be back in Australia very quickly.”

Originally published as Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz could warm bench despite epic scoring record against Victory