Brisbane Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich concedes striker Tom Waddingham is likely to move to a big overseas club but says it will only occur “at the right time, at the right price”.
The 19-year-old will be a key figure in the home A-League Men (ALM) clash with Sydney FC on Friday night after scoring seven goals in 23 games in his debut season.
Australian U20 and U23 representative Waddingham has already been linked to a move to Tottenham in England, German giants Bayern Munich and Serie A club Udinese in Italy.
Departed Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was keeping a close eye on him before exiting the role now held by former A-League coach Tony Popovic.
“I don’t think we would ever stand in his way,” Zadkovich told AAP of a Waddingham move.
“We would love to see him progress to the highest levels. That takes time and it takes the right club to come in at the right time at the right price. It has also got to be the right move also for Tommy.
“That hasn’t happened yet, which is a benefit for us because we get to keep one of our good young talents and keep working on his game. He is a great young player with a great attitude. There are a lot of areas for growth in his game but he is a young attacker who will only get better.”
Thomas Waddingham with Brisbane supporters. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Waddingham is a physical presence and uses his size to hold up the ball and keep defenders at bay, similar to Mark Viduka back in his playing days.
Radkovich said he was also a student of the game and watched other forwards closely without being prompted.
“I also get him to take a look at other strikers’ games and it can be clips from players in this league,” he said.
“Guys like Adam Taggart (of Perth Glory), someone I have worked closely with, and also guys that play in higher leagues. I try and take different components of different strikers and mould it to suit Tommy. His attitude is so good and he wants to improve so it is an enjoyable process.”
Players come and go in the ALM and Radkovich said the club had contingencies for a possible Waddingham exit.
“If he goes with a fee, there will be a fee there for us to try and strengthen our squad,” he said.
“There are other young players we have like Jacob Brazete who we have on a scholarship from Sydney FC. He is a winger that I could see play a big part at the right time.
“We always have a contingency but at the moment Tommy is ours. If he leaves we will work on solutions.”
Mixed injury news for Sydney
Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay wants his fringe players to force him to drop them as the Sky Blues prepare for time with star recruit Douglas Costa and English import Joe Lolley on the sidelines.
Sydney are away to Brisbane Roar in the A-League Men (ALM) on Friday and Talay said neither Costa or Lolley would feature.
Brazilian international Costa did not play in Sydney’s last-start ALM loss away to Auckland FC after picking up a hamstring issue during their Asian Champions League 2 trip to face Japanese side Sanfreece Hiroshima.
Lolley, meanwhile, limped out of the Auckland defeat with a groin injury.
Sydney are also set to be without talented midfielder Corey Hollman for up to six weeks after he rolled his ankle.
Talay hopes Lolley could be ready to play in next Thursday’s return leg against Hiroshima or their Sunday-week ALM clash with Macarthur FC.
He was also confident that Costa’s absence would similarly be a short-term problem.
“With Douglas we are taking it week by week,” Talay said.
“There’s a possibility he might be available for either game as well.
“Moving forward I think we are in a good place.
“The great thing is that they (Costa and Lolley) aren’t going to be out for a long period of time.”
Talay said he was unlikely to make major changes to his set-up with Max Burgess, Adrian Segecic and Jaiden Kucharski all waiting in the wings to take the spots left by Costa and Lolley.
“It’s always an opportunity and I think I’m pretty fair with my players,” Talay said.
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“I think I was very consistent last season when they played well, they retained their position within the team.
“We reward the players for performing and doing well.
“You don’t want injuries to happen, but when it does happen it opens up the door for players to come in and one of the players to come in and cement their spot.”