Melbourne City manager John van’t Schip does not expect to lose the services of new signing Josh Kennedy to Asian Cup duty in January.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will release an extended squad for the tournament beginning on January 11 with City midfielder Aaron Mooy to be named after an impressive start to the season.
While the A-League does not continue during the three-week tournament, clubs around the league will continue their day-to-day training schedule in what will be a rather peculiar situation.
Kennedy’s contract with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus ends on December 31 with the tall forward available for selection for City’s final game before the break away against the Central Coast Mariners on January 3 if he is fit and recovered from a persistent back injury.
van’t Schip does not believe Postecoglou will recall the striker to the Socceroos squad for the first time since excluding him from the final World Cup squad in June due to injury.
“He didn’t play for the last few months and is not fit at the moment,” he said.
“I don’t think that Ange is going to consider him, if he does he will have a reason and we will be happy for Josh but as we look at it this moment, I think he will be with us, preparing for the second part of the season.”
The City manager concluded that he does not expect any other City players to be called up to the squad and instead is focused on the team and improving their performance and form.
Fellow injury-plagued star signing Robert Koren is unlikely to be fit for the club’s next game – a derby clash against high-flying Melbourne Victory in two weeks time.
It was initially hoped that Koren would be back for the pre-Christmas blockbuster at AAMI Park, however that now appears to be doubtful after the Dutchman admitted “that the club would have to see because he [Koren] has not played one game yet and is not training with the team”.
City have next week off with their away match against the Western Sydney Wanderers rescheduled to March 11 due to the Wanderers Club World Cup commitments.