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Salley clearance close for Gold Coast

With the formalities almost completed, Head Coach Miron Bleiberg is hopeful he will be able to use the midfield general who has been on his transfer radar since 2009.

Salley has been sharp at training and looks to have settled quickly into his new surroundings on the Gold Coast with Bleiberg believing he will provide something of a missing link in the middle of the park.

“We are hopeful that Jonas will be cleared to play as we are only waiting on some paperwork from China,” Bleiberg said.

“If everything is completed as we hope and expect then Jonas will start on Sunday. He is in good shape, looks very good in training and will help to balance the side.

“I felt that against Heart we had our backs to the wall and with all the young players in the team we were a little short of experience or an older head - Jonas will give us that.

“He will also give us a little more flexibility with the other players we have in that I may be able to move one or two around if necessary,” he said.

United will again be without Olyroos James Brown and Dylan McGowan, but are keeping their fingers crossed that young forward Ben Halloran’s knee injury is behind him after the rising star also missed last weekend’s game with the same complaint. Halloran trained fully today and will be tested again on Saturday morning before a final decision is made on his fitness.

Looking ahead to the encounter against his old club, Gold Coast skipper Michael Thwaite said the match was a crucial one for two clubs who have not made the happiest start to the campaign, but insisted the greater weight of expectation was on the home side.

“Melbourne are under pressure; even more so than us really. It’s a big game and I’m sure there will be a big crowd as well. We’re looking forward to it and everyone in our team knows what we are capable of. It’s up to us now to put it together on the park and get the win we need,” Thwaite said.

“If we can collectively defend better, keep our structure and stop giving away cheap goals then we can definitely get something from the match. It’s a big game and both sets of players are going to be up for it.”

The Melbourne clash will be a landmark for one of Gold Coast’s foundation players with Ivorian wing-back Adama Traore set to make his 50^th Hyundai A-League appearance for the club.

Hyundai A-League Week 8 - Sunday 27 November 2011

MELBOURNE VICTORY v GOLD COAST UNITED

At AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick off: 4.00pm (QLD), 5.00pm local

Referee: Kris Griffiths Jones

Twitter: HALmvgcu

Live & exclusive on Fox Sports 1

Gold Coast United squad:

1.Glen Moss [gk], 2.Josh Brillante, 3.Michael Thwaite (c), 4.Zac Anderson, 5.Kristian Rees, 6.Paul Beekmans, 7.Golgol Mebrahtu, 10.Tahj Minniecon, 11.Jake Barker-Daish, 12.Dylan Macallister, 14.Ben Halloran, 15.Adama Traore, 16.Maceo Rigters, 17.Chris Harold, 20.Jerrad Tyson [gk], 21.Daniel Severino, 22.Peter Jungschlager, 24.Jonas Salley, 28.Daniel Bowles, 29.Mitch Bevan.

*five to be omitted*

In: 10.Tahj Minniecon (promoted), 11.Jake Barker-Daish (promoted), 14.Ben Halloran (return from knee injury), 24.Jonas Salley (new signing) 28. Daniel Bowles (promoted).

Out: None.

Unavailable: 9.Joel Porter (calf – 4 weeks), 13.Ante Rozic (knee – 3 weeks), 18.James Brown (Olyroos), 19.Chris Broadfoot (ankle injury – 6 weeks), 23.Dylan McGowan (Olyroos).

Melbourne Victory squad:

21.Ante Covic [gk], 3.Fabio, 4.Petar Franjic, 6.Leigh Broxham, 9.Jean Carlos Solorzano, 10.Archie Thompson, 11.Marco Rojas, 12.Rodrigo Vargas, 13.Diogo Ferreira, 14.Billy Celeski, 15.Tom Pondeljak, 16.Carlos Hernandez, 17.Jimmy Jeggo, 18.Danny Allsopp, 19.Isaka Cernak, 20.Lawrence Thomas [gk], 22.Harry Kewell, 23.Adrian Leijer (c)

*three to be omitted*

In: 22.Harry Kewell (returns from injury), 19.Isaka Cernak (promoted).

Out: 30.Zaim Zeneli [gk] (omitted), 7.Matthew Kemp (muscle strain).

Unavailable: 1.Tando Velaphi (stress fracture), 8.Grant Brebner (calf), 2.Matthew Foschini (Olyroos).

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 7): Melbourne Victory wins 4, Gold Coast United wins 3 (0 draws)