Why $250k payday may limit Costa’s derby involvement

Ufuk Talay has hinted that prized import Douglas Costa will have limited game-time in the Sydney derby as the Sky Blues look to juggle their A-League Men campaign and go on a deep run in the Asian Champions League 2.

Western Sydney Wanderers star Juan Mata is in doubt for Saturday’s encounter due to a hamstring injury.

Costa was given a cameo in last week’s 4-1 win over Adelaide as he worked his way back from a hamstring injury. But Talay is still set to take a cautious approach with the Brazilian international.

Sydney host Bangkok United on Wednesday in the first leg of their round-of-16 ACL2 tie where qualification for the quarter-finals would net the Sky Blues $A250,000 in prize money.

If Talay’s men were to go on and match the Central Coast Mariners, who won last year’s ACL2 when it was known as the AFC Cup, Sydney would secure close to $A4 million

“It’s not an easy one to balance with Douglas,” Sydney boss Talay said.

“The medical staff have obviously capped him with certain minutes within the game.

“But also I’m thinking one step further and we have a game on Wednesday, a very important ACL2 clash that we need to play as well.

“It’s one of those ones where I know Douglas wants to play – if I ask Douglas to play 90 minutes, he’ll say yes.

“But the reality is, we want to use him in the ACL2 as well.”

While Costa’s minutes may be limited, centre back Alex Popovic remains sidelined.

Mid-season signing Alex Grant and Socceroos leftback Joel King are both “touch and go”, according to the Sydney boss.

Talay said it was a shame the Wanderers would likely be without Mata as Sydney seek to complete a first-ever derby clean sweep by winning all three games in the same season.

Sydney, who sit fifth, can put a real dent in the eighth-placed Wanderers’ top six hopes.

“I think it would add value to the game, it’d be great if we could have Douglas and Juan Mata start because it’s a great spectacle for the fans,” Talay said.

“The derby is always exciting… it’s another game within the competition and we need to pick up three points because we know the direction we want to head.”