Victory skipper Roderick Miranda is poised to make a timely return to action in Saturday night’s Melbourne derby.
The experienced defender hasn’t played this season due to a foot injury.
However, Victory coach Arthur Diles on Friday seemed confident Miranda would be fit for the derby, which doubles as a grand final rematch. at AAMI Park.
“Roddy’s a big chance,” Diles said.
“Roddy’s completed the full week for the first time (this season), so we’ll have our medical meeting, crosscheck everything and I’m hoping Roddy’s right to play (on Saturday).
“He’s our captain, he’s our leader and a fantastic footballer. He makes us different when he plays.
“It’s great having him on the pitch to lift the players around him, and see his quality and what he brings to the team.”
While Miranda is likely to play, City coach Aurelio Vidmar confirmed that his team’s skipper, veteran left-back Aziz Behich, was set to miss another game with a hamstring injury.
“Speaking to the high performance guys (on Thursday), he’s tracking really well, but I don’t think he’s going to be OK for (the derby), but certainly ready for the next game (against Adelaide United on November 21),” Vidmar said.
As expected, City and Socceroos stalwart Mathew Leckie, who won the Joe Marston Medal for his player-of-the-match performance in his team’s 1-0 win over the Victory in last season’s title decider, will also miss the game with a hamstring injury.
“He has a very low-grade hamstring (strain) like he had last time, He’s already jogging. He’s had a wretched (run) of luck with the soft tissue injuries since I’ve been here,” Vidmar said.
“We have to try to figure out a plan with what we’re going to do with him next.”
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