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Sydney FC to 'step up' [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
Sydney FC vice-captain David Zdrilic said his side is "ready to step up" in the absence of two of their international stars when they meet New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium on Friday night.
After their first round home draw against Melbourne, the A-League's glamour team are missing their most glamorous signing - former Manchester United treble winner Dwight Yorke is on duty with Trinidad and Tobago in Central America.
Also missing is the club's pre-season top scorer Saso Petrovski, who has earned an Australian call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands by new national coach Guus Hiddink.
Zdrilic, who has recovered from his injury troubles, said his team was ready to accept "extra responsibilities" in an attempt to record their first A-League win against the Knights.
"It gives all of us extra responsibility because Sash (Petrovski) and Yorkey are good players," Zdrilic said.
"Last game we had three of us up front and now they are missing.
"We have plenty of players who can step up in attack and it is up to us to make sure we rise to the occasion. I’m sure we can do it because we have a lot of players who know how to step up. We have to be strong as a team and we should be alright."
"With a limited squad it’s difficult when players get called up into the national team, but that is something we are going to have to get used to because of the players we have at Sydney FC," he added.
"It’s good for the club because it lifts the profile of the team, but it also makes our task more difficult on the pitch."
Sydney FC squad:
Clint Bolton, Iain Fyfe, Alvin Ceccoli, Mark Rudan (c), Ufuk Talay, Robbie Middleby, Matthew Bingley, David Zdrilic, Steve Corica, David Carney, Alex Salazar, Andrew Packer, Terry McFlynn, Jacob Timpano and Justin Pasfield (gk).
AAP
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