Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold will test out the depth of his squad tomorrow night when the Sky Blues take on state league outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Leichhardt Oval (kick off 7:30pm).
With five players absent due to All Stars duties and Australian U-20’s matches, Arnold will use the game against the White Eagles as an opportunity to experiment with his newly moulded team and as a springboard ahead of Sydney FC’s first ever FFA Cup match next week.
“Tomorrow night is important in terms of getting some minutes into our legs and giving us a preparation game before our FFA Cup game,” Arnold said.
“We’re down on numbers a bit this week but we still have good depth in the squad and just for the players it’s good to get on the game and have a game of football rather than training all the time.
“We’ve put this game on tomorrow night against Bonnyrigg just to give us another preparation game, and just to give the boys, a lot of them, 70 to 80 minutes.”
One player Arnold will be looking to for impetus tomorrow night is youngster Corey Gameiro, fresh from his brace of goals against English Premier League giants West Ham United.
Gameiro has scored four goals in three matches this preseason and Arnold is confident the young striker can carry on his rich vein of form and improve further as the season kick off fast approaches.
“Corey is performing great,” said Arnold.
“You have a kid here with all the ability in the world, great pace and he’s a good finisher. Every day he turns up to training and he wants to get better and I feel he is getting better.
“Four goals in three games is great payback so far but I’m expecting very big things off Corey this year, when you look at his ability and what he can give you on the field I think he’ll be a lynchpin for Sydney FC this year.”
Gameiro attributed his goal scoring touch to Arnold and the trust the Championship winning coach has instilled in him, and the 21 year old Young Socceroo already has his eyes set on clinching his first major win for the Sky Blues when they tackle Melbourne City in the FFA Cup next Tuesday.
“It’s been great having Arnie come in and give me so much belief and so much positivity,” Gameiro said.
“It’s helping every day to make my brain clearer on the success I want to have not just here at Sydney but in my life. It’s been great having someone come in and show the faith they have in me so far.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow night. I know all the boys are looking forward to tomorrow, where we can practice a few things that we need to practice ahead of the big game when we go down to Melbourne to win.”
Pre-purchase your ticket and save! $10 adult, $7.50* child/conc (plus booking fee) purchase online here. This event is FREE for children under 12 years. Purchase a Sydney FC Membership before the end of today and receive a special code to purchase Members tickets for only $5 each!
