David Carney ready to impress against Adelaide

David Carney wants a starting spot in Holger Osieck's side. He gets his chance to impress against Adelaide United.

Adelaide United had better be ready for a storm because a fully fit David Carney is back in the country with his Bunyodkor side and he wants his Qantas Socceroos starting spot back.

The ACL game with the Reds represents a chance for Socceroos coach Holger Osieck to watch Carney up close, rather than in the footballing backwater that is Uzbekistan, Carney is well aware of the opportunity and has one eye on the upcoming World Cup Qualifier with Japan, especially after scoring his maiden goal for Bunyodkor on April 26.

“It-s always nice to be home and though Adelaide isn-t my home town being back in Australia is great,” Carney said.

Carney, whose career of late has taken a back seat to multiple shoulder injuries is starting to get his swagger back and is feeling well and is ready to impress.

“I am feeling fit. I think my fitness is good and it-s getting better, also my shoulder isn-t giving me any issues, which is great for me.

“Any Socceroos game is one you want to be a part of and we know it-s going to be big in Brisbane against Japan, I definitely want to be there and while it-s always important to put in a good performance it-s probably a little bit more important I do so against Adelaide.”

With Holger Osieck likely to be watching the match, and especially Carney the opportunity is there for him to take and while the Asian game may not be up to the standard he has become used to in Europe, Carney says he is adapting and that Adelaide better be ready for an ambush, much like the one Adelaide unleashed on Bunyodkor in Tashkent.

“The game here is a bit slower than what I am used to and the style is different because of that but I have played in Asia before so it-s not a huge problem,” he said of playing in Asia.

“The team is starting to gel, last time we played them it was our first game together, now we have played a as a team quite a bit and have done well at home.

“This a big game for Adelaide too, in theory a couple of losses would see Adelaide potentially not make it through so I-d say they have a bit to fear from us.”

And what of the Reds? Has Carney been impressed by their surprising AFC Champions League run? And what is to fear?

“They have shown they can sit back and attack on the counter and have done that really well also they can score from set pieces and conceding goals from set pieces has been a problems for us throughout the season, so it-s certainly something we are aware of.”

Adelaide host Bunyodkor in AFC Champions League action at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday May 2.