A-League Men Round 20 Preview: Team News, Injuries, and Suspensions

Image credits: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The A-League Men season is heating up, with Round 20 set to feature several blockbuster derbies and crucial matchups that could shape the top six. Ahead of the weekend's action, teams have announced their squads, with several key players returning from injury and suspension. Auckland FC host Wellington Phoenix on Saturday afternoon, with star midfielder Louis Verstraete back in the squad after serving a one-game suspension. However, Wellington have reinforcements of their own, with new signing Chico Geraldes potentially making his debut and Marco Rojas pushing for a shock comeback from an ankle injury.

Perth Glory midfielder Luke Amos could make his league debut against Sydney FC on Saturday night, while Juan Mata is back in the selection fold for Western Sydney Wanderers after a hamstring injury. Melbourne City welcome Samuel Souprayen, Kai Trewin, and Andreas Kuen back from injury for the Melbourne Derby, although key midfielder Steven Ugarkovic is set to miss the clash with a hamstring complaint. The match between Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar saw the Jets win 3-1, with Kota Mizunuma scoring his first goal for the club and providing three assists in his first four games. Mizunuma has vowed to take his game to the "next level" as the Jets pursue an unlikely A-League Men finals berth.

The Jets' win over the Roar was their third straight, and they are now unbeaten in five games, their longest unbeaten stretch in three years. They have climbed out of the league's bottom three for the first time since November, vaulting ahead of Wellington and arch-rivals Central Coast to ninth. The Roar, on the other hand, remain rooted to the foot of the ladder with 10 games left in their campaign, four points behind eleventh-placed Perth having played two fewer games. Here are the squads for each team:

• Newcastle Jets: 1. Ryan SCOTT, 4. Phillip ČANČAR, 6. Matthew SCARCELLA, 7. Eli ADAMS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 10. WELLISSOL, 13. Clayton TAYLOR, 17. Kosta GROZOS, 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 19. Callum TIMMINS, 20. Charles M’MOMBWA, 21. Noah JAMES, 22. Ben GIBSON, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON, 29. Justin VIDIĆ, 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Lachlan BAYLISS, 39. Thomas AQUILINA, 61. Garang AROU
• Brisbane Roar: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 6. Austin LUDWIK, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 11. Asumah ABUBAKAR, 13. Henry HORE, 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY, 17. Nathan AMANATIDIS, 18. Jacob BRAZETE, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
• Auckland FC: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Finn MCKENLAY, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
• Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Chico GERALDES, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 21. Marco ROJAS, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER

The A-League Men season is reaching its climax, with several teams still in contention for a top-six spot. The blockbuster derbies and crucial matchups in Round 20 will be crucial in shaping the final standings. With several key players returning from injury and suspension, teams will be looking to capitalize on their opponents' weaknesses and gain a vital advantage in the playoff race.

Here are the match schedules for Round 20:

1. Friday, February 21 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 7.35pm AEDT: Newcastle Jets vs Brisbane Roar
2. Saturday, February 22 – Go Media Stadium – 3pm AEDT: Auckland FC vs Wellington Phoenix
3. Saturday, February 22 – CommBank Stadium – 5pm AEDT: Central Coast Mariners vs Western Sydney Wanderers
4. Saturday, February 22 – AAMI Park – 7.35pm AEDT: Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City
5. Saturday, February 22 – HBF Park – 9.45pm AEDT: Perth Glory vs Sydney FC
6. Sunday, February 23 – Ironbark Fields – 5pm AEDT: Western United vs Adelaide United