ID :
101619
Thu, 01/21/2010 - 18:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/101619
The shortlink copeid
Sterjovski may finish season with Glory
With time fast running out to secure an overseas loan deal, Socceroos winger Mile
Sterjovski may be forced to compromise his World Cup dreams and play out the
A-League season with Perth Glory.
Sterjovski was keen to leave the Glory during January's transfer window on a
short-term deal with an overseas club in order to keep his prospects of making the
World Cup squad alive.
But the 30-year-old, whose resume includes stints at French club Lille, Swiss outfit
FC Basel, Genclerbirligi in Turkey and English club Derby County, said he was still
in limbo and open to offers.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has made it clear A-League stars not playing regularly
after the domestic season won't be considered for South Africa but Sterjovski said
there were ways around his current dilemma.
"I'm not concerned at all," Sterjovski said on Thursday.
"I'm more than happy to play out the season here and make the finals and keep
playing until it finishes.
"Then when that situation comes about I can maybe head back to Europe and as a worst
case scenario I would consider going back to a few of my old clubs in Europe and
training for six or seven weeks.
"I haven't spoken to him (Verbeek) about it because the transfer window is still
open so we are still looking at that situation.
"But as a worst case scenario if that comes about then I'd give him a call and see
what he thinks about that."
The A-League regular season concludes on February 14, with the grand final to be
played on March 20.
Should the Glory, who occupy sixth spot on the table ahead of Friday night's clash
with Wellington, reach the grand final, it would still leave Sterjovski with more
than two months to fill ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off on
June 11.
Sterjovski's Glory team-mate Chris Coyne, who met with Chinese Super League club
Shandong Luneng recently, is also yet to secure a loan deal, as is Perth skipper
Jacob Burns.
While it is a devastating situation for the trio of Socceroos, it's music to the
ears of Perth Glory, who would have struggled to make an impact in the finals
without their star players.
Meanwhile, Glory midfielder Adriano Pellegrino's planned trial with Celtic and
Motherwell may not eventuate with Perth yet to receive any word from the Scottish
clubs.
"I haven't heard any more about that, so it's up in the air," Glory coach Dave
Mitchell said.
Sterjovski may be forced to compromise his World Cup dreams and play out the
A-League season with Perth Glory.
Sterjovski was keen to leave the Glory during January's transfer window on a
short-term deal with an overseas club in order to keep his prospects of making the
World Cup squad alive.
But the 30-year-old, whose resume includes stints at French club Lille, Swiss outfit
FC Basel, Genclerbirligi in Turkey and English club Derby County, said he was still
in limbo and open to offers.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has made it clear A-League stars not playing regularly
after the domestic season won't be considered for South Africa but Sterjovski said
there were ways around his current dilemma.
"I'm not concerned at all," Sterjovski said on Thursday.
"I'm more than happy to play out the season here and make the finals and keep
playing until it finishes.
"Then when that situation comes about I can maybe head back to Europe and as a worst
case scenario I would consider going back to a few of my old clubs in Europe and
training for six or seven weeks.
"I haven't spoken to him (Verbeek) about it because the transfer window is still
open so we are still looking at that situation.
"But as a worst case scenario if that comes about then I'd give him a call and see
what he thinks about that."
The A-League regular season concludes on February 14, with the grand final to be
played on March 20.
Should the Glory, who occupy sixth spot on the table ahead of Friday night's clash
with Wellington, reach the grand final, it would still leave Sterjovski with more
than two months to fill ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off on
June 11.
Sterjovski's Glory team-mate Chris Coyne, who met with Chinese Super League club
Shandong Luneng recently, is also yet to secure a loan deal, as is Perth skipper
Jacob Burns.
While it is a devastating situation for the trio of Socceroos, it's music to the
ears of Perth Glory, who would have struggled to make an impact in the finals
without their star players.
Meanwhile, Glory midfielder Adriano Pellegrino's planned trial with Celtic and
Motherwell may not eventuate with Perth yet to receive any word from the Scottish
clubs.
"I haven't heard any more about that, so it's up in the air," Glory coach Dave
Mitchell said.
