Prasad on fire but no lock to play
HE has earned man-of-thematch honours twice in six NPL appearances this season but Jayden Prasad remains locked in a battle for a Gold Coast Knights starting spot.
Having starred off the bench in the Knights’ 1-1 derby draw with Gold Coast United in Round 7, the 23-year-old attacker was again at his best in Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over Moreton Bay after being elevated into the run-on side.
Following Sam Smith’s second-minute opener, Prasad delivered the coup de grace in the 53rd minute with his fourth goal of the season.
It was part of a best-onground performance for the former Brisbane Roar Youth star, who was also judged the Knights’ best after bagging a hat-trick in their 8-0 drubbing of Redlands United last month.
But with a wealth of talent at his disposal, coach Grae Piddick said there were no guarantees Prasad would be in the starting XI that hosts Lions on Saturday night.
“Everyone in my squad can start. That’s a good position to be in,” Piddick said. “(Saturday) night there could’ve been a number of people that could’ve been man of the match. That’s what you need to be winning games.”
Having joined the Knights from United in the off-season, Prasad said he had slipped seamlessly into life at the Croatian Sports Centre.
“Everything is going well so far, it was an easy switch. I knew half of the boys previously,” he said.
“I thought I did all right. My job is to create chances and opportunities for the team and as long as I’m doing that I’m doing all right. Hopefully I can stick to a regular starting spot.”
Yesterday was disappointing for United’s senior NPL sides at Tallebudgera, with the men falling 4-0 to Olympic and the women 5-1 to Souths United.