Lavicka sweating on Emerton

Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka is hopeful Socceroos midfielder Brett Emerton will recover in time for Sunday’s A-League clash with Gold Coast.

Emerton, who has not hit top form for Sydney after returning from a long stint in the English Premier League with Blackburn, left the field with an ankle injury after 78 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Perth Glory.

But Lavicka remains optimistic the 32-year-old will be fit to take his place for Sunday’s match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

“It’s a quick turnaround but we are hoping he will be right,” Lavicka said.

The under-pressure Sydney coach was left scratching his head again after his side blew another three points by allowing Perth a late equaliser.

But he refuses to concede his team has a mental problem and is lacking confidence.

“It’s more about concentration,” he said after the game.

Lavicka has now called on his senior players to rise and end the club’s streak of six games without a win.

“We have strong players in the squad, especially a couple of senior players with strong leadership and they must lift up the younger players,” he said.

“Also the coaching staff around me, which is professional, must be able to keep the players up.”

“It is more about character now.”