Salin Set For Debut
Brisbane Strikers coach Chay Hews is preparing to unveil the club’s new French import, David Salin, in Saturday’s Macron Cup pre-season fixture against Eastern Suburbs at AJ Kelly Park in Redcliffe.
Salin, who signed for the club last week, is yet to feature for his new team and missed Tuesday night’s Silver Boot tournament win over Rochedale Rovers.
However, Hews was happy to confirm that the Frenchman, who has been penciled in as either a central defender or central midfielder, would line up on Saturday.
“David will be getting a game. His clearance has finally come through so he’s good to go”, Hews said.
Hews also confirmed that his starting eleven for the opening Macron Cup encounter would be much different to the one that beat the Rovers on Tuesday as he looks to rotate his players between the two pre-season competitions.
“It’ll be a slightly more senior-orientated squad – the majority of the first team players plus a mixture of the younger guys,” Hews said.
“We’ve had a few guys pull up a bit sore so a couple of guys will have a rest on the weekend and probably play on Tuesday.
"Obviously, with two games a week we have to be careful with the boys and making sure they’re okay.”
While the emphasis for the Strikers at this stage of the pre-season is on building a squad and trialling players in different positions, rather than on the result, Hews admitted there would be a more serious edge to the Strikers’ efforts.
“I spoke to the guys tonight and I said that obviously the result for us at this time of the year for us was of zero importance in terms of points or being on the (league) table and things like that”, Hews said.
“But it’s my personality that I’ve always really hated losing, so I want the guys to take that approach and go out and try and win every game that we can.
"I think it’s important to try and get that winning mentality and try to develop that into the squad.
"I really want the guys to hate losing, basically, and get a feel for winning.”
Kick-off at AJ Kelly Park on Saturday is scheduled for 5.00 pm.
Words: Steve Pitman (Brisbane Strikers)
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