Suncorp surface not cause for Sydney injury toll: Talay

Ufuk Talay (r) says the patchy Suncorp Stadium surface was not to blame for Sydney FC’s injury toll.

Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay is refusing to blame the under-fire Suncorp Stadium playing surface as he faces up to eight weeks without Jack Rodwell.

The English defender failed to finish last week’s 2-1 away win over the Brisbane Roar, with scans later revealing he had sustained a calf tear.

Fringe Socceroos fullback Joel King picked up a foot injury in the same game and will be out for a similar timeline while Slovakian winger Robert Mak is unavailable for the next fortnight with a groin issue.

Fingers have been pointed at the Suncorp surface, which was heavily criticised by the players’ union earlier this season, and one flank of the field was visibly patchy in last Saturday’s meeting between Sydney and Brisbane.

Players surveyed by Professional Footballers Australia in December rated the ground’s turf quality as one out of five.

But Talay is refusing to use that as an excuse, adamant Sydney can plug the gaps in their starting XI and make it four wins on the spin when they face Adelaide on Saturday.

“It was the same for both teams,” Talay said. “At the end of the day, the pitch is the pitch.

“I don’t think that played a role with the injuries that happened.

“It (the patchy area) was towards the sideline anyway and Jack is a central player.”

Rodwell has had a history of soft-tissue injuries and was getting back to his best when he suffered his latest setback.

The 32-year-old has played just four A-League Men games for the club this season.

Talay said Sydney had taken steps to reduce the defender’s training schedule to lessen the load on his body.

“Before I came in I think they tried different scenarios with Jack,” Talay said.

“And look, it’s one of those things, it’s the way your body is … we build him up and get him to 90 minutes and then his calf goes just before half-time.

“It’s one of those things that we try to manage the best you can, but we can only work off how he feels.”

Talay indicated Sydney were scouring the market to make additions in January with the mounting injury toll.

“We’re having those conversations with (head of player management) Alex Baumjohann,” Talay said.

“But at the end of the day we have a squad, it’s an opportunity for players to come in, step up and keep the jersey on their back.