ADELAIDE United doesn’t have any excuses now in bolstering its attack with a star foreigner now that Isaias is an Australian citizen.

The Spanish-born Adelaide skipper finally received from a letter from the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism this month.

Isaias will free up a foreign spot just in time for the Reds to do good business during the upcoming FIFA transfer window where United’s Ryan Strain believes the club could use some help.

However the late timing of Isaias’ new status has all but discounted his chances of representing the Socceroos at January’s AFC Asian Cup in the UAE.

media_camera Brisbane Roar’s Thomas Kristensen and Isaias from Adelaide United battle for the ball at Coopers Stadium. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

With striker Baba Diawara back in the gym and eager to prove his fitness to coach Marco Kurz after recent knee surgery the Isaias new Australian scenario couldn’t come at a better time.

The German was a target of expansion A-League club South Melbourne but Adelaide is now safe at least for now from Kurz being poached by the Victorians after Football Federation Australia on Thursday announced Western Melbourne as its newest club for the 2019/20 season.

Strain urged the club to re-sign Kurz.

The German’s two-year contract runs out in May.

“It would be good if we get Marco again, we’ve been with him two years now, we’re building good chemistry with him and he’s getting everyone working like he wants to,” Strain said after the Reds training session at Elizabeth on Thursday.

“A lot of clubs are looking at him but I hope he sticks around here.”





With Adelaide hosting Melbourne City at Hindmarsh on Sunday, Strain believes Ken Ilso (hip and abdomen) will return to the squad after missing last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Victory away through injury.

Strain says Adelaide is in good shape to continue to plant the seeds of doubt into the City players’ heads after the controversy surrounding the non appearance of Uruguayan goal machine Bruno Fornaroli still troubles the billionaires.

Fornaroli has missed City’s past three matches and according to reports is highly unlikely to be included in the travelling party for the clash against the Reds.

Strain also alluded to George Blackwood (collar bone) recovering from the round two injury and being ready for the City clash claiming a goal machine is vital to the Reds season.

“Obviously you need someone who can bang in 15 goals a season,’’ Strain said.

“People that have won the league like Bobo with Sydney (FC) and that, they score goals but I think we’ve got players that can consistently score goals but not a natural No. 9.

“It would be good to get one of our natural No. 9s back and firing.”

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