Joe Lolley is hopeful of making his return to the pitch this Saturday night, with the Sydney FC winger declaring himself “raring to go” ahead of the Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium after missing the last four matches through injury.
After a cautious rehabilitation period, Lolley says the focus has been on ensuring his body is fully prepared following a previous setback.
“We took our time with the rehab,” Lolley said.
“After re-aggravating it last time, the main thing was not rushing the situation. The body feels good now and I’ve had extra training, so hopefully I can contribute on Saturday.”
Lolley completed a strong training block over the weekend and believes he has put himself in a position to be available for selection.
“I had a big session on Sunday and got through that really well,” he said.
“I’ll be training again this week and, fingers crossed, everything goes well and I’ll be ready and available for some minutes.”
Focus on collective improvement
While acknowledging the frustration of watching from the sidelines, Lolley was quick to shift the focus away from individual absences and onto the collective responsibility of the squad.
“I don’t really want to speak about myself or injured players,” he said.
“It’s frustrating watching, of course, but it’s not about me. It’s about us improving our performances as a group.”
“I don’t think me playing yesterday suddenly wins the game,” he added.
“The season is getting to an important stage now and we need to come together and get out of this little run we’re in.”
Reflecting on recent results, Lolley felt Sydney FC’s loss against Wellington was difficult to judge given the circumstances, while conceding the most recent performance fell below expectations.
“The Wellington game was a bit of a nothing game until they scored a deflected free kick,” he said.
“Then Rhysy gets sent off and it becomes difficult to analyse.”
“Yesterday was poor — there’s no real beating around the bush,” he continued.
“The basics weren’t there, we turned the ball over too much and made silly errors, but we’ll put that right.”
Derby the perfect reset
With the shortest turnaround of Sydney FC’s season so far, Lolley believes the timing of the Sydney Derby presents the ideal opportunity to respond.
“It’s probably the quickest turnaround we’ve had,” he said.
“We’ve got a game in four days and one of the biggest games of the season. It’s a perfect way to bounce back.”
Lolley stressed that form counts for little when it comes to derby football, pointing to previous meetings as proof.
“Last time we were top of the league and Wanderers were struggling — and we lost,” he said.
“It shows that form doesn’t really play too much of a part in these games.”
A fixture like no other
Now a familiar figure in derby football, Lolley says the Sydney Derby consistently delivers drama and intensity.
“All the confidence of previous results goes out the window,” he said.
“It becomes a game about fighting, battling and leaving everything on the pitch.”
“They probably did that better than us last derby, and I know we won’t be second best in terms of fight and aggression this time.”
Lolley expects another spectacle at Allianz Stadium, a venue that has hosted several memorable derby encounters in recent seasons.
“They always produce great games and great drama,” he said.
“It’s one of the best sporting spectacles in the country.”
“A comfortable win would be nice — no drama,” he added with a smile.
“But for the league and the game, they’re always great adverts for the A-League.”
Measured return and belief in the group
While feeling physically strong, Lolley acknowledged his minutes will be managed carefully after an extended spell without match time.
“I feel really strong, but off the back of seven or eight weeks without many minutes, it’s probably not the time to push too much,” he said.
“Whether that’s starting or from the bench, I’m sure it’ll be limited in some respect.”
Despite recent setbacks, Lolley remains confident Sydney FC are well placed as the season enters a crucial phase.
“The league’s very tight — anyone can beat anyone,” he said.
“We’re still right in the mix and there’s so much to play for.”
“Hopefully this is just a minor dip and a learning curve,” he added.
“If we come through it stronger, we can have a really good end to the season.”
Match Details
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 15
Saturday 31st January 2026
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Men’s Kick Off: 7:35pm AEDT
Women’s Kick Off: 5:00pm AEDT
Gates Open: 4:30pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Drama
Tickets: Click Here
