Vickerman looking to ‘reinforcements’ to help lift United

Written by Melbourne United Media

Following a pair of tough losses across Round 4, Melbourne United Head Coach Dean Vickerman said he is looking forward to getting some of his injured stars back into the line-up.

Impact duo Shea Ili (concussion) and Mason Peatling (knee) are yet to play a game this season, while spark-plug point guard Lachie Barker has missed the last three games (concussion).

All of this, combined with the loss of one of the league’s best big men in Ariel Hukporti (achilles) for the season has Melbourne playing significantly shorthanded.

While United have been able to come away with two wins without these pieces, Vickerman said getting the likes of Ili, Barker and Peatling back into the line-up will go a long way as his side looks to put together more consistent performances.

“I was sitting there before the game thinking ‘We’ve lost two point guards, we’ve lost our back-up four man, we’re missing our center’,'' he said.

“We’ve got to be the best second half (of the season) team in the league right now. We’ve just got to get to this FIBA window, be as close to .500 as we can if possible and get some reinforcements and then we can really see what this group is capable of.”

Vickerman said he’s expecting Barker to return in Round 5, with the possibility of getting Ili back into the line-up before the end of the round.

NBL22 Best Sixth Man and United’s Defensive Player of the Year winner Shea Ili is set to come into the team with a point to prove, having had a terrific off-season in the NBL1 and for the New Zealand national team.

Ili took home the NBL1 South’s MVP and DPOY Awards, while leading the Sabres to 15 wins in his 16 appearances, while playing a starring role for the Tall Blacks as they secured FIBA World Cup qualification.

The best way to make sure you’re in the building to see Melbourne’s stars return to the court is to pick up a three or five-game membership, while tickets remain on sale for every United home game here.