By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Sydney FC coach Branko Culina admits he faces a massive dilemma in whether to continue playing a half-fit Juninho or cut his losses with the A-League club's marquee star.
The Brazilian World Cup winner, who signed a one-year deal reportedly worth more than $1 million in July, has been hampered by ankle and shoulder injuries all season and is not expected to get better anytime soon.
Culina said resting the 34-year-old would not improve the situation, with the coach left to decide whether it was in the club's best interest to persist with a 50 per cent Juninho for the rest of the season.
"It's one or the other, no Juninho or Juninho at 50 per cent," Culina told reporters.
"We have to weigh that up over the next few weeks and work out if that's good enough.
"The situation is quite difficult. On one hand you have a player that is your marquee player and is obviously costing the club lots of money.
"If you don't play him you get nothing out of him, if you do play him, he's carrying quite a significant injury or injuries and he can only give you 50 per cent.
"That's still better than nothing, but the question is, is that 50 per cent enough compared to what we could be getting from someone else?
"The last two weeks, the answer has been no. It hasn't been enough."
Culina was also sweating on the fitness of his other Brazilian, Patrick, with the striker facing a potentially season-ending knee injury.
"He hasn't trained this week and he's having scans today to determine the outcome of his injury," Culina said.
"It doesn't look good ... he'll probably play for another week or two with pain and then he'll be more than likely forced to go through surgery."
The arrival of former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges is expected to help ease Sydney's injury woes, but Culina today insisted he would not rush the new signing into the side.
Bridges, 29, is expected to arrive on Wednesday as a replacement for injured midfielder Michael Enfield (knee).
"First of all he's got to get a visa and secondly let's have a look at him," Culina said.
"You want to do the right thing by the player as well and I don't want to be disrespectful to the players that we've (already) got."
Sydney play Adelaide at home on Saturday after dropping two points outside of the top four following their 3-3 draw with strugglers Perth last weekend.
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