Potential line-up smells like teen spirit

MELBOURNE City coach Erick Mombaerts is preparing to throw an untried 16-yearold into his squad for Round 1 as he considers replacement options for Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues is training with the senior squad and looks set to be plucked from the youth team for Saturday night’s derby.

A substitute role appears most likely for Raphael.

Fellow teenager Moudi Najjar, 19, is favourite to start up front in place of Maclaren, who is on Socceroos duty.

Mombaerts hasn’t been shy about picking youngsters instead of experienced players as Melbourne City has advanced to the FFA Cup final.

Rodrigues, son of former Adelaide United striker, Brazilian import Cristiano, recently signed a three-year scholarship deal with City, the attacking midfielder having impressed with the youth team after he was lured from Adelaide.

Fellow youth player Stefan Colakovski was due to be promoted to Saturday night’s squad but is under an injury cloud.

“We need to prepare well to play without Jamie. We will find a solution to be strong without him,’’ Mombaerts said.

“We have options with young ones … Moudi. We also have another solution with a false nine, with (Uruguayan signing) Adrian Luna.

“We have also Rafa; he’s also a young talent we have. His origin is Brazilian; he’s an attacking midfielder/winger.’’ City’s depth will be tested. Lachlan Wales and Denis Genreau have been called up by the Olyroos, and scholarship player Idrus Abdulahi and Yaya Dukuly have joined the Joeys squad for this month’s under-17 World Cup in Brazil.