Milos Ninkovic ready to back up as Sydney FC chase FFA Cup

Milos Ninkovic is ready to throw his body on the line to help the Sky Blues make it back-to-back FFA Cup triumphs.

Sydney FC playmaker Milos Ninkovic, right, in action against the Wanderers at the SCG on Saturday night. Picture: AAP

Milos Ninkovic is turning 34 in a little over two months, but the supremely classy Sydney FC midfielder said he is ready to throw his body on the line to help the Sky Blues make it back-to-back FFA Cup triumphs.

Having been involved in both goals, Ninkovic played an influential role in Sydney’s 2-0 derby win over Western Sydney on Saturday night, earning a well-earned rest when substituted in the 67th minute as his side held on to continue their domination over the Wanderers, who have now won just once in their past 15 A-League encounters with the Sky Blues.

However, there was little time for celebration as thoughts quickly moved to tomorrow’s FFA Cup final against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, when the Sydneysiders will be backing up on just three days of rest.

That match is in the middle of a three-game period in just six days for Sydney, leaving coach Steve Corica trying to juggle his squad ahead of another big game, against unbeaten Melbourne City in Melbourne on Friday night.

The situation is not helped by the fact key midfielder Siem De Jong injured his hamstring on Saturday night after coming on to replace Ninkovic.

Corica said he was trying to keep the Dutchman fresh for the cup final, which is why he relegated him to the bench against the Wanderers and used Paulo Retre instead in the starting line-up.

That Ninkovic was replaced so early, along with skipper and goalscorer Alex Brosque (subbed in the 75th minute) would suggest the Serbian, De Jong and Brosque would have all been in the starting line-up tomorrow night.

But De Jong is definitely out as the club waits on the results of scans to determine for how long, though Corica suggested on Saturday night that the injury was “low grade”.

“He is obviously out of the cup and that is a blow. We put him on the bench to rest and not give him a full 90 minutes,” Corica said. “We wanted fresh tyres for the cup but it hasn’t worked out.”

Ninkovic is ready to back up.

“It will be another tough game, the same as last week (when the two sides drew 1-1 in the opening game of the season),” Ninkovic said.

“We want to win the trophy because no one has gone back to back in the cup and it would be great for our confidence.”

As for his body holding up?

“We will see. I am more worried about the Melbourne City game than Adelaide (in terms of coping). I will give 100 per cent to win the trophy.”

Ninkovic said the loss of De Jong, who joined the club at the start of the season, will be huge as the two have formed a wonderful combination in just a short time.

“He is a big loss and we hope it is not bad. He seems OK, but we have to see,” he said.

“We have a nice combination and he is an unbelievable player.”