Blow for Sydney as stars to miss Roar battle

Star Sydney FC pair Douglas Costa and Joe Lolley have been ruled out of the Sky Blues’ A-League battle with Brisbane Roar on Friday night but remain a slim chance to return for their club’s AFC Champions League Two battle with Sanfrecce Hiroshima next week.

Costa (hamstring) and Lolley (groin) both had scans this week, with the outcome perhaps better than the Sky Blues had expected.

However, the news wasn’t as good for Sydney midfielder Corey Hollman, who is set to miss up to six weeks after injuring his ankle in his side’s 1-0 loss to Auckland FC last Sunday.

“It’s disappointing for (Hollman), but that’s the nature of the game, there are injuries, especially when you play three games in eight days,” Sydney coach Ufuk Talay said.

English winger Lolley was also forced off in the defeat at Go Media Stadium, while Brazilian attacker Costa took no part in the match in Auckland after hurting his hamstring a few days earlier in Japan.

“The great thing is they’re not going to be out for a long period of time. It’s great for the group, and it’s also great for them,” Talay said.

“Joe’s actually not too bad at all. Hopefully, he’ll be available for the Hiroshima game (next Thursday at Jubilee Stadium). If not, then the Macarthur game (November 10).

“With Douglas, we’re taking it week by week. There might be a possibility that he might be available for either of those games as well.

“Moving forward we’re in a good place.”

While Sydney enter Friday night’s contest at Suncorp Stadium on the back of a hectic schedule, the Roar hasn’t played in almost two weeks after having a bye last weekend following their opening-round 2-0 loss to Auckland.

“That could be a positive and a negative at the same time,” Talay said.

“They might feel refreshed … but for us, as long as we’re in tune with what we need to do, and how we need to play, we don’t really look at what the opponent has done.”

The Roar has also suffered an injury blow, with Ecuadorian winger Neicer Acosta to miss Friday’s battle.

However, another of Brisbane’s off-season recruits, Lebanon international Walid Shour, is confident the Roar has enough quality to upstage the A-League title favourites.

“We didn’t play badly against Auckland but we are so much better than that,” Shour said.

“We were not dangerous up front. That’s all we’ve been working on – how to get the three points in front of our home fans.

“They’re a strong team but when they come to Suncorp Stadium in front of our fans, it’s going to be really difficult for them.”

Despite being a midfielder, Shour was used in the centre of defence by Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich in round 1.

“I feel more comfortable in the midfield … but whatever Ruben needs, whatever the team needs, I’ll do,” he said.