Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover returning against Central Coast after A-League pitch invasion

Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover is set to return to the field for the first time since being smashed in the face with a bucket during the now infamous A-League derby against Victory.

The 25-year-old was concussed and left needing stitches for a severe facial laceration after Melbourne Victory fans stormed the pitch at AAMI Park on December 17. 

The derby had to be abandoned, was branded the ‘darkest day in Australian football’ and led to multiple people being charged by police – including the man that attacked Glover. 

Melbourne City are returning to the field for the first time when they host the Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday, and coach Rado Vidosic confirmed Glover passed concussion protocols will be between the sticks for the side. 

‘Tommy missed the first few training sessions (last week) because of concussion and came back and trained in the last two training sessions,’ Vidosic told News Corp.

‘He had a lot of support from the players and everyone around him here at the training sessions and he looks back to his normal (self).’

It’s brilliant news not only for City fans, but the football world in general, which was left horrified over the scenes that came in the wake of stronger sentiment for the game in the wake of the Socceroos’ brilliant World Cup campaign. 

They were scarcely believable scenes when Glover reeled away after being struck with the metal bucket, which was full of sand at the time given it was to, ironically, distinguish flares.

The young goalkeeper had a flare thrown in his direction, and threw it back in the stands – prompting the already rowdy fans into completely anarchy, with an estimated 150 people rushing onto the pitch and throwing objects. 

Vidosic, while pleased Glover had recovered from the stitches and concussion he suffered during the pitch invasion, cautioned it was quite a traumatic incident to go through.

Police arrested this person, now nicknamed ‘Bucket Man’ after he carried the metal bin full of sand onto the pitch during the derby

‘He (Glover) trained really well, and we hope that everything is fine with him, but we’ll find out a little bit more (on Tuesday night) once he starts the game,’ Vidosic said.

‘It very sad moment for everyone involved in football. You kind of only see that on the TV but to be in the front row when something like that happens, it has got even a bigger impact on people.’

Football Australia (FA) and Australian Professional Leagues, who runs the A-League, have not yet announced what will happen to the fixture, and whether the City will be awarded the win. 

FA handed down the first round of sanctions over the violence with the Victory banned from selling tickets to home games, with only pre-ticketed members allowed to attend. Police have also made a number of arrests.

Tom Glover, pictured throwing himself at the ball earlier this season, will return to the field for the first time since the horrific Melbourne derby scenes on Tuesday when City take on Central Coast

Sections behind the goalposts will be inaccessible by fans and supporters are unable to attend away matches with further sanctions likely to come.

The game was abandoned when City, who sit first on the ladder, were up 1-0 thanks to a goal by star midfielder Aiden O’Neill. 

The fourth-placed Mariners present themselves as stiff opposition for the men in sky blue, who have smashed Sydney FC and Newcastle in consecutive matches.

All that remains is to hope AAMI Park on Tuesday remains a safe space for both footballers and fans – and that City and Mariners can put on a show and rejuvenate the beautiful game once again.