Ange lauds fans, not pitch

Postecoglou queries Homebush surface after Monster Truck event

ANGE Postecoglou has used the Socceroos’ first training session at ANZ Stadium in Sydney to inspect the pitch as well as his players after expressing concerns with the surface.

Australia’s coach is delighted by news the crowd is approaching a sellout of 76,000 but was much less enthusiastic about the pitch for tomorrow night’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

The Sydney Olympics venue was used for the return qualifying clash with Syria on October 10 but Postecoglou was nervous about the pitch given the ‘ Monster Jam’ motoring event held at the venue later last month.

“From what I’ve seen so far ... it wasn’t as good a condition as it was against Syria. There were monster trucks on there,” Postecoglou said.

There are noticeable patches on the ground where grass has been replaced, but ground staff said they were happy with how the surface had recovered from the October 21 motoring event.

The ground will also be mowed twice before the match.

All 25 Socceroos trained yesterday, with Mat Leckie (groin) and Robbie Kruse (knee) sporting taped up legs.

The pair didn’t play in Hon- duras and were, with Tim Cahill (ankle), the only injury doubts heading into the tie.

Mile Jedinak and Matt Jurman — who both played 90 minutes on the awful pitch in San Pedro Sula despite limited club game time — will be assessed before tomorrow.

But Postecoglou insisted every player was available for the second leg while also confirming he’d be making “a few changes”.

“They’re all well. The travelling crew recovered well (with) no knocks from the game,” he said.

“(There’s no-one with any- thing that needs any maintenance or modification and the three boys (Mark Milligan, Kruse and Leckie) who were here got through everything really well.

“It wasn’t an easy game. The kind of info I’m getting from medical staff is that everyone feels pretty good considering.

“It’s a big game and I reckon even if a couple had niggles now they wouldn’t say anything about it.”

Postecoglou did say Jedinak struggled in the aftermath of Saturday’s 0-0 draw in Honduras, which was the first 90- minute match he’d played in five months.

“At the end he felt it as you’d expect. But he played it pretty smart, he knows his body well,” he said.

“I’d be very surprised if he didn’t put his hand up as being ready to go, knowing him and his character.

“When you’re at home you get a bit of an adrenaline rush anyway that carries you through, so I see no reason why he can’t back up.”

Postecoglou can only name 23 on his teamsheet — meaning two will watch from the stands tomorrow night.