It will be the All White utility man’s first appearance in the national league this season and arrives after his clearance from Chinese club Shenzhen Ruby.
Vicelich was named OFC Player of the Year for 2009 after a highly impressive year – which included helping the All Whites qualify for the World Cup and captaining Auckland City to a fifth-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup – and followed that up by performing well during New Zealand’s remarkable unbeaten World Cup campaign in South Africa during June and July.
His performances there caught the eye of Shenzhen Ruby scouts and he was picked up to play for the side on a short-term deal.
The return of the veteran, whose 71 international appearances make him the country’s most-capped player, to the City line-up will be a most welcome boost for co-coaches Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx.
The new-look City side have had a string of mixed results in the ASB Premiership so far and are currently on a club record four-match winless streak. They will be hoping the presence of Vicelich and the visit of last-placed Manawatu will be enough to snap them out of this patchy form as they look to start climbing the table.
The Aucklanders are not likely to have everything go their own way on Saturday though. Despite being winless in the league, Manawatu put three unanswered goals past Wellington Phoenix ‘A’ on Tuesday night to give themselves a much-needed bout of confidence.
The Auckland City vs Manawatu match takes place on Saturday at Kiwitea St from 2pm.
Other ASB Premiership fixtures: Waikato FC vs Waitakere United, Fred Jones Park, Saturday, 3pm; Hawke’s Bay United vs Team Wellington, Park Island, Sunday, 1pm; Otago United vs Canterbury United, Tahuna Park, Sunday, 2pm.