Skipper in doubt for City

While Newcastle Jets are set to regain captain Nigel Boogaard for Friday’s ALeague semi-final with Melbourne City, the Victorians appear to be losing a race against time to have their own skipper available.

City leader Michael Jakobsen was an early departure from training yesterday.

There was no aggravation of his thigh injury but having already missed the past two matches with the ailment, his failure to get through a full training session puts the Danish centre-back in extreme doubt for City’s do-or-die clash in the Hunter.

The 32-year-old was the sole ever-present for Warren Joyce this season, inheriting the captain’s armband in the wake of Bruno Fornaroli’s long-term injury.

But now City face a defensive re-shuffle for the biggest match in the club’s history.

Osama Malik, who returned from his own injury to deputise for Jakobsen over the last fortnight, said all was not lost ahead of the semi-final.

“There’s still some hope he’ll be part of the squad,” he said.

“He’s a very important player for us. Even if he’s not playing he’s important to have around.”

If Jakobsen doesn’t play, Malik is likely to stay in defence, allowing the central midfield pairing of Oliver Bozanic and Luke Brattan to continue.

For the Jets, Boogaard was seemingly cleared by coach Ernie Merrick to play on Friday when he declared his entire team fit and ready, save for Ben Kantarovski.

Merrick said injury-hit attacker Ronny Vargas was “looking very good” in training, freed of a groin problem that kept him out of the Jets’ last round 8-2 smashing of Central Coast.

Dario Vidosic, who has impressed in his spell in attacking midfield for City over the last month, said Boogaard’s return was “no concern”.

“We know if we can play our football for the full 90 minutes we should have enough quality to book in the final,” he said.