Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Injured striker Michael Eisenhut will be cheering louder than most for Northern Fury in this Saturday’s Westfield FFA Cup match with FNQ Heat - even if it is from afar.

The two PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland rivals face off at Brolga Park in the Round 6 Qualifying tie, with the winner just one step away from a berth in the national Round of 32.

Eisenhut, 32, will miss the match with an ankle ligament injury, but while work commitments will see him closer to Mount Isa than Townsville on the night of the match, he said he will be keenly following the game via social media on the night.

“I’ll definitely be on (the computer) trying to keep an eye on what’s going on,” he explained.

“I always get pretty animated when it comes to following sport and particularly when I have an active involvement in, so there will definitely be some excitement from me.”

He added that the possibility of playing in future rounds of the national knock-out competition will provide extra motivation to hasten his return to the side in coming weeks should Fury win.

“I’m hoping to be back in a couple of weeks time but I’ll be keen to get back for the next round of FFA Cup provided the boys get through.”

Eisenhut is not the only first-team regular to miss the match with injury, with Sam Herlihy and Joe Thornton in doubt, as well as Caleb Hobson, who is out for the rest of the season.

However, he said he believes the side will pull together to make amends for last year’s defeat against Heat at the same stage of the tournament.

“We beat them in the first game of the season and our performances have been good in the past few weeks. There’s no reason we can’t get over them and through to the next round,” he explained.

“We’ve got the players that can come in and, yes we are missing a few valuable players in key positions, but the boys that have come in have done a really good job.”

“The game against Moreton Bay indicated the depth we do have and the boys coped really well. So there’s not too much of a concern.”

He added, “There’s not one club in Australia that will go through a season without injuries and if there is then they should buy a lottery ticket.”

Eisenhut commenced his career in New Zealand where he played in the local equivalent of the Westfield FFA Cup - the Chatham Cup.

However, he said the Westfield FFA Cup was extra special as, unlike New Zealand’s knock-out competition, it offers second-tier and community clubs a chance to test themselves against Hyundai A-League opposition.

“There’s a little bit more incentive (in the FFA Cup). You can’t play again the Wellington Phoenix or anything like that (in New Zealand).”

“The opportunity to play an A-League side, I think most footballers in the country would be encouraged and excited about doing that,” he concluded.

Fixture details:

Westfield FFA Cup - Qualifying Round 6
Northern Fury FC v FNQ FC Heat
Brolga Park, Townsville
Saturday, May 30
Kick-off - 7:00PM