Official release from Melbourne Heart

Melbourne Heart FC have confirmed the signing of defender Adrian Madaschi.

A five-time Socceroo, Madaschi joins Heart on a 10-week deal as an injury replacement player for Kliment Taseski who will miss at least three months with a foot injury.

With Adrian Zahra still likely to be unavailable for some time, and Curtis Good and Aziz Behich also set to miss crucial Hyundai A-League matches through international duty, Head Coach John van 't Schip feels Madaschi will offer valuable cover at the back.

"We are excited to welcome Adrian to the Club for the next two months. He's a player who has excellent experience at club and international level, and is highly professional in his approach to football, which is something Italian football is famous for," he said.

An imposing central defender, Madaschi's strength and ability to read the play have made him a regular member of the Australian national set-up, at both youth and senior levels, for over a decade.

Having featured in the FIFA U/20 and U/17 World Cup's, where he was named in the team of the tournament as the Joeys reached the final, in addition to earning selection to the Olyroos for the 2004 Olympic Games, Madaschi has amassed significant experience at the elite level.

Following a decade long stint abroad, which featured periods in Italy's top two divisions and the Scottish Premier League, Madaschi has returned home to ply his trade with the Red and White.