Seb Ryall is set to return for Sydney FC before the end of the season after being cleared of a serious injury, and is closing in on a new deal with the club.
The defender was diagnosed with a hamstring tendon injury sustained in the first minutes of Sydney's 3-2 win over the Central Coast Mariners earlier this month and his stint on the sideline remains indefinite for now. However, club sources suggest Ryall is expected to return to the field well before round 27 and will be fit to play in the finals.
Fairfax Media understands Ryall is in talks with the club to sign a deal that will keep him beyond the finals for potentially a ninth season. The 27-year-old is in the final months of his contract with Sydney FC and was linked with a move to a rival A-League. His agent is understood to have accelerated talks to move Ryall elsewhere, offering his services to other A-League clubs, including Sydney's opponents on Friday night, Adelaide United.
However, Ryall is likely to continue his tenure at the club where he's become one of their longest serving players having spent the past eight seasons at Moore Park, making 170 appearances in all competitions. However, he has struggled for game time this season making just four starts in the A-League, falling behind Matt Jurman and Alex Wilkinson in the pecking order before suffering an injury just a week after Jurman's departure.
Ryall faces a challenge working his way back into the first team after the club signed experienced Dutch defender Jordy Buijs last week, who completed his first training session with Sydney FC on Tuesday. Youngster Aaron Calver started and impressed in the Sydney Derby on Saturday night and is a chance to retain his place in the starting lineup on Friday night.
