Adelaide United coach John Kosmina has dispelled rumours striker Sergio van Dijk is ready to leave the club and return home to Indonesia.
Last Thursday the Reds issued a statement that they had approved a request from Van Dijk to spend time in Indonesia until the following Monday to address some personal family matters.
Van Dijk s request came just hours after being left on the bench and making a late appearance in United s 2-2 draw with FC Bunyodkor in the AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg clash at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The Dutch forward s decision to depart Adelaide on compassionate leave added to lingering speculation which first gained momentum earlier this year, that the 30-year-old was ready to call time on his five-year association with Australian football.
Speaking on Wednesday, Kosmina quashed such a suggestion with one brief statement.
Serge isn t going anywhere he only went (to Indonesia) to see his mum and dad, and he was quite happy to do that, Kosmina said.
However, Reds marquee midfielder Dario Vidosic wasn t so reassuring of his team-mate s future.
We hope he stays I m not too sure what exactly is going on but I think he s enjoying his time here, Vidosic said.
It s always frustrating as a footballer when you re not in the team but he s working really hard and today he gave it everything.
We know he is a quality player and that when he is on (the pitch) he is always creating problems.
It s a very long season, injuries do happen and sometimes you have to switch the shape up but he s a very important player and we hope he does stay.
Despite Kosmina s comments, doubts over the 2010-11 A-League Golden Boot winner s future came to a head when former Gold Coast and Adelaide-born hitman Joel Porter was seen training with the Reds on Wednesday.
While Porter s appearance raised a few eyebrows, Kosmina downplayed the situation.
The 56-year-old made a point to say Porter, who is without a club since Gold Coast folded last season, was only a train-on guest at Hindmarsh and that the ex-Hartlepool United attacker s presence was not related to the speculation surrounding van Dijk.
Joel is not here to trial it s to help him out. I ve known Joel for years, Kosmina said.
I actually tried to sign him in the first season of the A-League when he was playing at Hartlepool but we couldn t come to terms on it.
They (Porter and van Dijk) are similar types of players both left footers but Joel s had a few calf niggles over the last two years that he hasn t been able to get on top of.
We ve got a full roster so I m just trying to help out a South Australian come back home that has probably still got a year or two left in him whether it be at this level or the next one down remains to be seen.
Joel s full condition, certainly to get back to an A-League level, is still quite a few months away.
But he s a quality player and a good bloke, and I want to help him.
Adelaide take on the reigning Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor in the return leg of their ACL quarter-final tie next Wednesday in Tashkent.
