Melbourne City caretaker coach Desmond Buckingham says it was not an injury concern that led to star striker Andrew Nabbout starting on the bench against Brisbane Roar, but rather another player deserved the position more.
Nabbout missed City’s previous match – a 3-1 win in Perth – with a groin injury, and his starting position on Sunday appeared to most to be a precaution to ease him back into the fold.
Alas it was actually young forward Marco Tilio keeping the renowned superstar from playing the 90 minutes, a tick to the potential City see in Tilio.
“It wasn’t so much about easing Andy back in, it was more about rewarding young Marco Tilio,” Buckingham said.
“Marcos been very patient and worked extremely hard on the training field on his game and he’s built his game time up with five minutes, ten minutes, 15 minutes.”
Tilio has often appeared as a substitute for City this year, impressing with his impact off the bench late in games.
He has played 13 games, yet only started in three. However, he has found consistency in recent weeks, playing minutes off the bench in the last five of City’s match before starting against Perth in replacement of Nabbout.
“When he go his opportunity to start at Perth he performed very well, so he deserved to keep his place,” Buckingham said.
Tilio played 87 minutes of the Perth match, but his fitness levels and the presence of the Socceroos player on the bench forced Buckingham’s hand at half time against the Roar.
Tilio was substituted off at the 46 minute mark, reaching a passing efficiency of 91 per cent before his departure.
“As we know he’s not played much football, so at 45 mins it made sense with Andy being fresh just to give us something else down that right hand side and try and inject something different,” Buckingham said.
Nabbout lacked his trademark dash in the second half and perhaps needed the run to get himself going again.
City won the game 3-2, after a 78th minute banger to Scott Galloway sealed the win.
Feature image credit: Melbourne City
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