Grant backs Ninko over Castro as AL's best
Apr 28, 2017 - 6:42 AM There's barely a whisker in it, but Sydney FC right-back Rhyan Grant reckons teammate and master playmaker Milos Ninkovic should trump Diego Castro for the A-League Johnny Warren Medal.A day after Perth coach Kenny Lowe declared it would be an embarrassment if his Spanish midfield wizard Castro didn't take out the top gong for a second season running, Grant backed Graham Arnold's Serbian in Sky Blue.
"It's a much of a muchness," Grant said.
"Obviously Castro is a great player and he's showed that this year, but I see Ninko day in, day out in training and everyone sees what he does in a game.
"It's so hard to pick them apart, but for me it's Ninko."
Castro and Ninkovic loom as the game-changers in Saturday's semi-final at Allianz Stadium.
Ninkovic, ruled fit to start after a final-round ankle injury, has been the driving force behind Sydney's attacking success and will boost the hot favourites and premiers at home.
Castro, despite his inspired season, has been comparatively quiet against Sydney with no goals or assists over three A-League losses and one FFA Cup final defeat - Ninkovic has three goals and as many assists.
But Perth coach Kenny Lowe warned the 34-year-old was due a big outing.
"Underestimate Cas and he'll come in and produce the goods he always has," Lowe said.
"Good players decide games and he and Ninkovic are both good players.
"It's not so much that they match up against each other, it's their players who match up against Cas and our players who match up against Ninkovic.
"They're the big battles, that's what you look at. Can we keep Brosquey and Bobo quiet. Can we keep Ninkovic quiet? Can they keep Keogh and Taggart and Castro quiet?
"It's about which big players turn out for the game."
Castro is likely to start on the left and keep the industrious Grant busy in defence.
"He's a great player and has a lot of experience and skill," Grant said.
"We go on what we've seen of him in our games and react to that, but we want to concentrate on ourselves.
"If we worry about one player we're going about the game the wrong way."
Source: AAP
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