Time for Frank Farina bring Terry McFlynn in from the cold Sidelined: Sydney FC's Terry McFlynn at his energetic best at training. Of all the forgotten men in the A-League this season, there's few more left in the shadows than Terry McFlynn. Stripped of the captaincy at Sydney FC and denied a starting position in every single game this season, it's easy to think the Ulsterman is a lot closer to the end point than the start. But as the 32-year old turns up to training each day to work through the motions, an agonising cycle of effort without reward, it's worth contemplating whether he still has something to offer. Terry McFlynn. If I was Frank Farina, I'd make a hugely bold decision: I'd start him against Brisbane Roar on Boxing Day. Of course, this would mean tipping out Matt Thompson or denying the return of Brett Emerton - possibly even both if you played Nicky Carle back there. But with a short turnaround from the 1-0 defeat on Sunday against Wellington, McFlynn would have fresher legs than those who played in New Zealand. The Sky Blues are in a delicate phase right now and they need, more than ever, to deliver the kind of knockout performance that their fans have been craving. Something's gotta give. McFlynn is not especially skilled in any one facet but he brings that indeterminable factor to each contest. He's willing to bleed for Sydney FC. When you're playing against the champions-in-waiting - they should win the league, at the very least - you need to throw in an element that the opposition coach can't account for. Of course, Alessandro Del Piero provides his own brand of X-factor that is well documented. Expect the Italian to supply his customary moment or three of genius. But Brisbane, sans the injured Besart Berisha, will surely look to overload their front third with chances and break whatever Sydney's resistance may be. This is where McFlynn could play a huge role. His defensive capabilities would help counter the Roar's attacking threat, especially through the middle. He can take it up to Matt McKay, Ivan Franjic and Luke Brattan if they start cutting loose. Don't think it's beyond McFlynn's capabilities. He plays his best games for Sydney when the club's back is against the wall. As they fight for top six legitimacy, they're pinned again right now. Probably the best game McFlynn has ever played for Sydney was against Perth at NIB Oval in 2010-11. Sydney started the year with 10 games without a win and weren't fancied to get a point in Perth. However, McFlynn single-handedly bullied the Glory midfield into submission. He chased and harassed and harangued so furiously that the home side wilted en masse, laying the foundation for an unlikely win. It's not implausible that he could repeat that against Brisbane. This game is tailor-made for the man who still sets the captain's example on the training field. This is almost certainly McFlynn's last year in a Sydney FC jersey and therefore his last in the A-League. But he shouldn't be regarded as a spent force. The revival of John Hutchinson should give McFlynn great hope. Hutchinson was considered washed up when Rostyn Griffiths forced him out of the Central Coast line-up. However, with some thoughtful management from Graham Arnold, Hutchinson wasn't just nursed back into team but into form. He has become the team's metronome; a link man between the centre-halves, wing-backs and attacking midfield, changing passes with all of them going forward and covering their backs in defence. When Griffiths was sold, he seized his turn so completely that the dreadfully unlucky Oliver Bozanic had to leave. Hutchinson turns 34 on December 29 and this week moved into the all-time top 20 for most Australian club matches played. Farina could do a lot worse than call "Arnie" and ask him how he did it.