DON’T be surprised if Fabio Ferreira plays against Adelaide United for Central Coast in Gosford, despite the “gentlemen’s agreement” he has with his former club

Professional Footballers Australia officials and Football Federation Australia officials worked frantically to convince Adelaide and Mariners’ hierarchies to jettison the agreement.

FFA and PFA have told both clubs Ferreira can play but the decision is up to Mariners coach Phil Moss.

Ferreira was set to be sidelined by the accord for two A-League matches between Mariners and Adelaide.

While Ferreira on Wednesday told The Advertiser he was upset with the precedent, Adelaide coach Josep Gombau said he wouldn’t be perturbed if the Portuguese star – nicknamed La Flecha (The Arrow) – was to feature.

“Oh no it’s not my business,’’ Gombau said.

“If he plays he plays, I will not be upset.

“But when you allow a player to leave in the middle of the season you don’t have any plans for this player to leave because you want him to stay and he wants to leave.

“It’s like you are accepting a situation that you don’t create – there are things between coaches and clubs.

“When someone arrives at an agreement you need to respect it and nothing more.

“He (Ferreira) knew before he signed.”

Former Real Madrid forward Miguel Palanca is expected to make his debut off the bench after Adelaide received the correct paperwork for the on-loan Numancia player.

Palanca was announced as Adelaide’s new signing after the club last week lamented the loss of Ferreira due to uncertainty about the number of foreigners at the club, which ultimately remained at five imports for next season.

“He’s (Palanca) ready and he trained all the week,’’ Gombau said. “We have to think that he just arrived and he came from Spain in winter, it’s a cold place, when he left it was snowing and now here it’s summer.”

While the Mariners are expected to make some changes to their starting XI after the club was belted 5-1 by Sydney FC at home a fortnight ago, Gombau has his own injury concerns.

He has ruled Dylan McGowan (thigh) out while Nigel Boogaard (knee) is in doubt.

Gombau said he would give his No. 1 stopper ample time before making up his mind.

“We have Boogy (Boogaard) 50/50,’’ Gombau said.

“McGowan started training (this week) and he felt that he recovered but also he felt the same problem and it’s better to wait one more week. I spoke with him (Boogaard) he don’t have a good feeling (about the injury).”

Cam Watson (calf) has also been ruled out of the starting team after he was spotted training lightly on Tuesday, along with Bruce Djite, Craig Goodwin and Paul Izzo, who are all expected to travel to Gosford.

Originally published as Ferreira may front up to play United