Brisbane’s McKay to miss three weeks

Brisbane Roar will head to Perth this weekend without midfielder Matt McKay after the midfielder was ruled out for three weeks with a quadricep tear.

The Brisbane mainstay initially tweaked the muscle against Adelaide United three weeks ago, with scans this week revealing it had developed into a small tear.

The club’s newly appointed head physio Tim Oostenbroek said a few weeks on the sidelines would allow McKay to return to full fitness for the club’s assault on the finals.

“We’re looking at around the three-week mark for his return,” Oostenbroek said.

“With the season at the midway point we certainly want to make sure he’s up for the end of the season when that comes around.”

After making his return from a knee injury only five weeks ago, McKay said it was frustrating to find himself back on the treatment table.

“I’m desperate to always play,” he said.

“We’ve got this weekend away in Perth and then three games in a week. I was desperate to play those three games and I still might have a chance.

“We hit a bit of form on the weekend and I was glad to be a part of that.

“The people who can come in will do well and hopefully we can continue to get results and push towards the finals.”

McKay joins Ivan Franjic (hamstring) on the sidelines, with the recently recruited Roar right back also racing to return in time for the club’s hectic mid-December schedule.

Massimo Murdocca (broken leg), meanwhile, is likely to be fit to play this weekend after a minor knock to his ankle on Saturday ruled him out of a return to the Hyundai A-League against Wellington.

Oostenbroek said both he and Michael Zullo (groin) were fit, but coach Ange Postecoglou would have the final say on whether the pair were ready to return to first-team football.