Del Piero an All Stars doubt

Conflict ... will the star act be in Japan or in Sydney? Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

The punters want Alessandro Del Piero to line up against Manchester United, but the A-League's most popular striker could be unavailable for the marquee match on July 20 at ANZ Stadium.

Fairfax reports that Del Piero's staff are organising a match for Sydney FC in Japan -  a country where Del Piero enjoys considerable popularity - against J-League side Sagan Tosu on July 24. 

While the Italian star, the most selected striker in Foxtel A-League All Stars voting, has been heavily used as part of the promotion for the side, but could be unavailable and in Japan preparing with Sydney FC. 

It is likely to set up a heated conversation between the Sydney FC marquee, Football Federation Australia and Sydney FC.

"The question of availability is something we are working through at the moment. We certainly haven’t ruled out any players at this stage," FFA chief executive David Gallop said.

"The fans have voted strongly to see Alessandro Del Piero in the All Stars team and that’s no surprise. He came with a huge reputation and lived up to it.

"The same applies to Shinji Ono and Emile Heskey. These marquee players are understandably very popular. The fans want to see them in the All Stars and so do we.’’

Sydney FC stand to benefit financially should the friendly be set up in a country where Del Piero's standing is so strong his personal company operates a full-time office in Tokyo. 

Del Piero isn't the only star whose involvement is in doubt.

Former Melbourne Victory player Marco Rojas is more than likely to be at a German Bundesliga club; Jeremy Brockie has just gone on loan to Toronto FC, while the All Stars' Socceroos contingent will likely be at the East Asian Cup, which starts on the same night.

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Del Piero an All Stars doubt

Conflict ... will the star act be in Japan or in Sydney? Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

The punters want Alessandro Del Piero to line up against Manchester United, but the A-League's most popular striker could be unavailable for the marquee match on July 20 at ANZ Stadium.

Fairfax reports that Del Piero's staff are organising a match for Sydney FC in Japan -  a country where Del Piero enjoys considerable popularity - against J-League side Sagan Tosu on July 24. 

While the Italian star, the most selected striker in Foxtel A-League All Stars voting, has been heavily used as part of the promotion for the side, but could be unavailable and in Japan preparing with Sydney FC. 

It is likely to set up a heated conversation between the Sydney FC marquee, Football Federation Australia and Sydney FC.

"The question of availability is something we are working through at the moment. We certainly haven’t ruled out any players at this stage," FFA chief executive David Gallop said.

"The fans have voted strongly to see Alessandro Del Piero in the All Stars team and that’s no surprise. He came with a huge reputation and lived up to it.

"The same applies to Shinji Ono and Emile Heskey. These marquee players are understandably very popular. The fans want to see them in the All Stars and so do we.’’

Sydney FC stand to benefit financially should the friendly be set up in a country where Del Piero's standing is so strong his personal company operates a full-time office in Tokyo. 

Del Piero isn't the only star whose involvement is in doubt.

Former Melbourne Victory player Marco Rojas is more than likely to be at a German Bundesliga club; Jeremy Brockie has just gone on loan to Toronto FC, while the All Stars' Socceroos contingent will likely be at the East Asian Cup, which starts on the same night.

View the original article here

Fisher in doubt as Saints face injury dilemma

Race against the clock ... Sam Fisher is battling to be fit for round one. Source: Alex Coppel / Herald Sun

St Kilda faces a defensive crisis that has turned its Round 1 clash with Gold Coast into a danger game, with Sam Fisher no guarantee to play.

The key defender pulled up sore after the club's last NAB Cup match and, while cleared of a stress fracture, doubts remain.

Fisher, who wore a moon boot as a precaution last week and withdrew from an AFL golf day on Thursday, has battled stress fractures in his career.

He will need to train well to play the away game against the Suns on Saturday night.

St Kilda football manager Greg Hutchison said Fisher had been cleared of serious foot concerns.

"He will train this week and be up for selection during the course of the week, so whatever happens happens," Hutchison said.

"He will train this week and be available for selection."

St Kilda has five of its seven key backs facing injury concerns, troubling for a club that tried and failed to recruit West Coast's Mitch Brown and then attempted to lure Collingwood's Chris Tarrant out of retirement.

All-Australian defender Sean Dempster is out with a hamstring injury, Rhys Stanley is lineball for Round 1 after hyper-extending his knee three weeks ago, and Tom Simpkin is returning after an interrupted pre-season.

Even rookie defensive tall Jackson Ferguson is on the injury list with a knee problem.

The club has few other injuries and will hope to paper over the cracks against the Gold Coast with James Gwilt and Jason Blake before reinforcements return.

Simpkin played in the VFL at the weekend and could be rushed into the side, while Stanley trained on Friday and will have to prove his fitness this week.

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Who's in doubt for round one?

Brisbane Broncos

Dale Copley - Knee (Season)
Jharal Yow Yeh -  Ankle  (Indefinite)
David Hala - Knee  (Indefinite)
Scott Anderson - Ribs  (Indefinite)

Canberra Raiders

Jack Wighton - Hand  (Round 1)
Terry Campese - Knee  (Indefinite)
Jarrod Croker - Knee  (Round 3)
Glen Buttriss - Ankle  (Indefinite)
Josh Dugan - Ankle  (Round 1)
Blake Ferguson - Nose  (Round 1)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Sam Kasiano - Shin splints (Round 1)
Frank Pritchard - Shoulder (Round 1)
James Graham - Suspension (Round 9)

Cronulla Sharks

Bryce Gibbs - Calf  (Indefinite)
Todd Carney - Achilles (Round 1)
Beau Ryan - Knee  (Indefinite)
Luke Lewis - Neck  (Round 1)

Gold Coast Titans

Beau Falloon - Knee  (Round 2)
Marmin Barba - ACL  (Round 1)

Manly Sea Eagles

Glenn Stewart - Knee  (Round 6)
David Williams - Knee  (Indefinite)
Anthony Watmough - Ribs (Round 1)

Melbourne Storm

Matt Duffie - Hamstring (Indefinite)
Kevin Proctor - Knee  (Indefinite)

Newcastle Knights

Beau Scott - Back  (Round 1)

North Queensland Cowboys 

Johnathan Thurston - Hand (Round 1)
Michael Morgan - Broken jaw (Round 3)
Kane Linnett - Elbow  (Round 1)

Parramatta Eels

Taniela Lasalo - Broken arm (Round 10)
Reni Maitua - Suspension (Round 1)

Penrith Panthers

Luke Walsh - Quad  (Round 1)
Cameron Ciraldo - Knee  (Indefinite)
Mose Masoe - Unknown  (Unknown)

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Matt King - Arm  (Indefinite)
Beau Champion - Concussion, head cut  (Round 1)
Adam Reynolds - Hand  (Round 1)
Nathan Merritt - Disciplinary  (Round 1)
Luke Burgess - Shoulder  (Round 12)
Shaune Corrigan - Foot  (Indefinite)
Jeff Lima - Knee  (Round 1)

St George Illawarra Dragons

Mitch Rein - Shoulder  (Indefinite)
Kyle Stanley - ACL  (Season)
Cameron King - Concussion  (Round 1)
Matt Cooper - Calf  (Round 1)
Jason Nightingale - Back  (Round 1)
Bronx Goodwin - Pectoral  (Indefinite)
Evander Cummins - Foot  (Round 1)
Dan Hunt - Calf  (Indefinite)

Sydney Roosters

Sonny Bill Williams - Pectoral (Round 1)
Tautau Moga - ACL (Season)
Jack Bosden - Hip (Indefinite)
Lama Tasi - Knee (Round 3)

Warriors

Shaun Johnson - Arm (Round 2)
Carlos Tuimavave - Hand (Round 5)
Sam Lousi - Foot (Round 6)
Sione Lousi - ACL (Season)
Nathan Friend - Shoulder (Round 5)
Russell Packer - Bicep (Round 5)

Wests Tigers

Aaron Woods - Knee  (Indefinite)
Lote Tuqiri - Broken arm  (Indefinite)
Curtis Sironen - Shoulder  (Round 2)
Matt Groat - Foot  (Indefinite)
James Gavet - Foot  (Indefinite)
Blake Ayshford - Concussion  (Round 1)
Chris Lawrence - Shoulder  (Indefinite)

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