Injuries mount for Glory ahead of FFA Cup final

Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe is in a race to get his big names back for this weekend's FFA Cup final, as he sweats on a number of injury headaches.

Kenny Lowe expects a stiff challenge in cup final Source: Getty Images

A short-handed Glory outfit were beaten 1-0 by Western Sydney on Sunday, in their third loss of the A-League's first four rounds.

The emphatic away defeat was hardly helped by several injuries to the squad - some expected and others not so much.

Among those who did not travel east was Spanish marquee Diego Castro (calf), Hungarian international Gyorgy Sandor (ankle), winger Chris Harold (hamstring) and midfielder Mitch Oxborrow.

The absentees forced Lowe to heavily reshuffle his team late in the week, and meant Dino Djulbic and Guyon Fernandez had to play despite carrying their own issues.

It's a worrying sign for the Glory, who are preparing to take on a full-strength Melbourne Victory in the FFA Cup final on Saturday.

"Oxborrow and Sandor have got impact injuries from a tackle during the week. Castro's got a reaction to a calf just from the hard grounds, same as Guyon Fernandez, Lowe said.

"Djulbic got through the game. I didn't think he'd start but he got through the game, so we'll see how he goes. Chrissy Harold has got a hammy.

Lowe said he was hopeful a few of his stars would return in time for the showdown at AAMI Park.

"You hope, but if not we'll roll with what we've got," he said.

"Everyone gets a lovely opportunity to get a game in a Cup final - I think I'll bring my boots."

Lowe was unwilling to use the mounting injuries as an excuse for going down to the Wanderers at Pirtek Stadium, praising his young line-up which included 20-year-old Hagi Gligor, who made his first start before being replaced by debutant Alex Grant.

"We coped, we were competitive. And we didn't chuck it, which was a big thing."