Osama Malik ready to relive glory days with Adelaide United Osama Malik at training being watched by Adelaide United coach Michael Valkanis. OSAMA Malik's slide from being a five-star Adelaide United midfield link man to the outer has coincided with the Reds' erratic A-League form. Malik has been sidelined with an ankle injury after he was red-carded in Adelaide's 0-1 loss to Brisbane Roar at home earlier this month, but the Reds utility is ready to make an impact tonight. Adelaide faces Perth Glory at nib Stadium and Malik may be rushed into the starting XI despite only returning to full training on Tuesday. "I feel really good," Malik said. I want to be available for the game this week. Since Malik was rested, after coach Holger Osieck wanted to see the Adelaide-born utility in the Socceroos camp in December, the Reds' results have been inconsistent. Adelaide was a premier's plate favourite alongside Central Coast in the first week of December. In Malik's 18 games for Adelaide this season, United has claimed 32 of the club's 40 points. Adelaide has a chance to return to form in Perth after claiming just five points in its past five matches while Glory has earned nine points during the lead-up to the finals. Malik may get his game time wish given Nigel Boogaard must serve a one-game ban after copping his eighth yellow card of the season during Adelaide's 2-0 loss to Mariners at Hindmarsh on Sunday. Malik has played in the stopper's role during his time with North Queensland before the club shut its doors in 2011. He started his career as a skilful forward with a good eye for goal before he was forced to change his refined game in a bid to win starts for Fury and Adelaide. Malik must be in Adelaide coach Mike Valkanis's plans as the interim boss looks for a solution in central defence. Iain Fyfe is likely to retain his role as the right-sided stopper. But despite Malik being able to perform the stopper's duties, Valkanis can also call on Antony Golec. The speedy big defender hardly put a foot wrong before being banished after the Roar loss this month. He hasn't seen any A- League game time since. And Jon McKain, who has been playing as a holding midfielder since Malik was injured, could also slip into the stopper's vacancy. Malik said he needed to force his way into the side or he could run out of time because Adelaide faced an elimination final at Hindmarsh Stadium on April 7. "It's sort of the business end of the season now and if I can't get in this week it will sort of make it pretty difficult for me to get into the final," he said. I going to do everything in my capacity to getting in this week because you want to be in the squad at this time of the year.