Melbourne City coach Eric Mombaerts mulls teen options up front

Melbourne City coach Erick Mombaerts is preparing to unleash a 16-year-old into his squad for the opening round of the new season.

Former Adelaide United Striker Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues with son Raphael, who is on Melbourne City’s books. Picture: AAP

Melbourne City coach Erick Mombaerts is preparing to unleash an untried 16-year-old into his squad for the opening round of the new A-League season, as he considers his options for replacing Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues is training with the senior squad and looks set to be plucked from the youth team for Saturday night’s Melbourne derby against Victory at Marvel Stadium. While a supersub role appears most likely for Raphael, fellow teenager Moudi Najjar is favourite to start up front in place of in-form Maclaren, who is on Socceroos duty.

Mombaerts hasn’t been shy to pick kids ahead of experienced players during City’s run to the FFA Cup final.

Rodrigues, son of former Adelaide United striker Cristiano, ­recently signed a three-year scholarship deal with City, having impressed with the youth team after he was lured from Adelaide. An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, Rodrigues has impressed Mombaerts in pre-season.

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Fellow youth player Steven Colakovski was also due to be promoted for the round-one derby, but remains under an injury cloud.

“We need to prepare well to play without Jamie. We will find a solution to be strong without him,’’ Mombaerts said. “We have options with young ones — Moudi. We also have another ­solution with a false nine, with (Uruguayan signing) Adrian Luna for example. We have also Rafa, he’s also a young talent we have. His origin is Brazilian, he’s an ­attacking midfielder/winger. My job is to also find a solution ­because sometimes Jamie could be injured. But he is not injured (now).”

City’s depth will be tested in the opening round, with Lachlan Wales and Denis Genreau called up to the Olyroos, while scholarship player Idrus Abdulahi, who made his debut in the final round of last season, and winger Yaya Dukuly have joined the Joeys ahead of the FIFA under-17 World Cup.

“We have three offensive players with the (national teams). I have just 20 players in my squad, so I have to find a solution to be substitutes,’’ Mombaerts said.

“We don’t have another option, because Lachlan Wales is with the (Australian) under-23 team along with Denis Genreau. Lachlan (would have been a) good solution also.”

HERALD SUN